Animals

Haley and Jana: Devoted Friends

by Cheryl Kucsera

Before arriving at the Sanctuary, chickens Haley and Jana had been kept by a Washington, D.C. family as “pets” for their children. Sadly, no thought was given to the safety and comfort of these sensitive, intelligent birds, who were kept together in a single, very small, wire cage. One day, a neighbor was horrified to witness the children rolling the cage across the yard — with the chickens still inside! The neighbor contacted friends Howard Edelstein and Mary Finelli, who happen to be friends and supporters of Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary. The family agreed to turn the chickens over to Howard and Mary, who made arrangements to deliver them to Poplar Spring.

Tiny Haley, who has feathers of snowy white, is an outgoing and inquisitive bird who enjoys being cuddled. This delightfully charming little lady will cheerfully chirp to anyone who will sit down to have a chat with her. Jana, who is somewhat larger, has glossy, intricately patterned feathers in rich shades of orange and rust. She's a bit shy and prefers to keep her feet on the ground.

In their previous situation, Haley and Jana were always together and, literally, quite close. No doubt they were able to comfort each other and developed a deep bond. They are still remarkably close, only now it is their bond of friendship that keeps them together -- not the confines of a tiny cage.