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Hamlin-Clarkson Herald
Westside News Established 1953 Serving the communities of Spencerport-Ogden, Churchville-Riga, North Chili, Hilton-Parma, Hamlin, Clarkson, Kendall, Bergen, Clarendon, Holley-Murray, Brockport-Sweden
March 29, 2020
Issue No. 12
westsidenewsny.com
The special bond between a pigeon and a puppy by Tami Raco A local pigeon who can’t fly and a pup who can’t walk took the internet by storm and touched the hearts of millions. Lundy, a 13-week-old Chihuahua pup, came to Sue Rogers of Hilton when he was only four weeks old, barely weighing six ounces. He was born in South Carolina with a spinal defect, which makes him unable to walk. Sue is the founder of the Mia Foundation, a rescue organization for animals that are born with congenital disabilities and special needs such as cleft palates, deformities, and missing limbs. The organization helps rescue the animals from a death sentence by rehabilitating them, caring for them, and giving them much needed love and affection and a chance for life. During the two months that Sue had The unlikely friendship between Lundy, a Chihuahua who Lundy, she provided him rehabilitative therapy and can’t walk, and Herman, a pigeon who can’t fly, has warmed lots of love and attention. the hearts of people across the country. Herman is a pigeon that Sue rescued one-and-a-half years Mia Foundation Facebook page. The next ago when someone contacted the Mia morning, I woke up, and the picture had Foundation about an injured pigeon gone viral, and I had over 100 messages,” that was lying in the parking lot of a car Sue said. Lundy and Herman’s picture dealer for several days. Herman came received over 9 million views from every to Sue in a life-threatening condition. corner of the world. It also led to many She tube-fed Herman and helped him high-profile interviews from Good Mornregain his strength. He is unable to fly ing America, People Magazine, and even due to neurological issues from either The Dodo. This unusual bond between a pigeon a virus or a brain injury that occurred, leaving him near death. After Herman and pup has even led to a children’s book, was stronger, Sue contacted bird sanc- which will be released soon. The book tuaries to see if she could find him a Lundy and Herman came to fruition forever home. Since Herman could not after talk show host Kelly Ripa saw the fly, no one would take him. Sue did not viral pictures of them. Since the pictures want him euthanized, so she made Her- were posted on Facebook in mid-Februman part of her forever rescue animal ary, thousands of people have asked to family. Herman is a happy pigeon living adopt little Lundy. “Choosing from thouwith the Rogers. Every day he gets love sands of people would be an impossible and attention and gets moved to vari- decision. It would be so hard to choose one ous places, so his life is enriched with a person out of all the people who want to adopt him. So, I decided to keep him as variety of sights and sounds. One day last month, Sue momentarily an addition to my forever ten program,” set Herman down next to Lundy to free (making it now a forever 11). Sue and her husband began the Mia up her hands. What she saw was heartwarming. Herman, the pigeon, began to Foundation after her own Chihuahua pup nuzzle and cuddle little Lundy, the Chi- was born with a cleft palate. The Rogers huahua. “When I saw how Herman was were faced with an unexpected decision cuddling Lundy, I took a few pictures of whether to euthanize their newborn with my phone and posted them on our pup due to her disabilities. They chose to
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keep her, leading to a 22-month journey classrooms to help teach children a of learning to care for their special needs more compassionate view of those who pup. Mia got her very own Facebook page, are different. Differences and congenital which led to thousands of followers who disabilities in peers can often lead to closely watched Mia’s life unfold. After bullying. “I bring in a Chihuahua with Mia passed away, Sue was overwhelmed no front legs, and he hops around like a by the moving messages she received kangaroo versus walking like a normal from complete strangers who were in- dog, and the kids love him. But if they saw a child who couldn’t spired by Mia’s life. “I had walk normally, they might no idea how many lives be inclined to bully him for Mia impacted,” Sue said. his differences,” said Sue. Sue received messages Seeing these animals with from teens who were concongenital disabilities helps sidering taking their own children rethink how they life who were impacted by treat people who might be Mia and motivated to fight different, and they develop through their depression. compassion with the help She was also contacted by of the Mia Foundation ania family whose husband mals. was facing a terminal canAs for Lundy and Hercer diagnosis, and Mia’s man, they continue to grow fight to live inspired him to seek alternative treat- Lunday and Herman are the their bond and journey of love and acceptance bements, ultimately saving his life and winning subject of a new children’s tween a puppy and pigeon while living in the Rogers’ his battle against cancer. book. home in Hilton. Recently, These stories inspired the couple to allow Mia’s imprint on this the Hilton High School Robotics team world to continue impacting others posi- built Lundy a special wheelchair to help tively, leading to the creation of the Mia her walk, and it even includes a seat for Herman to ride along. For more informaFoundation. In addition to saving animals, Sue also tion on the Mia Foundation or to follow brings her mission of love and acceptance this pup and pigeon’s story, find them on into local schools. Sue and her “forever Facebook (The Mia Foundation). Provided photos ten team” of special needs pets go into
The Hilton High School Robotics team built this special wheelchair for Lundy that includes a ride-along platform for Herman.