About Us
Olive's Place Dove & Pigeon Sanctuary Inc is a 501c3 nonprofit. This home for pigeons and doves in need is funded via original fine art paintings and supporter donations.
Contact: canvasdove@gmail.com - Please look on the website for answers before contacting! Our information pages cover the majority of questions people ask, and this page contains links to direct you to all topics the website covers.
Donations: paypal.me/olivesplacesanctuary
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/olivesplacesanctuary/
Instagram: @olives_place
I found a bird. What do I do?
Visit the Bird Help Basics page for information about common situations doves and pigeons are found in, and how to locate help in your area.
We are currently closed to new intakes - with some exceptions for extreme situations such as elderly/disabled birds. Daily sanctuary care is handled by just one person, so limits ensure that we can provide plenty of space, funds, and time to care for current residents. Please understand that we do not have volunteers to catch or transport birds. If accepting a new bird, we are able to meet in Prattville (intersection of 41st Street & Highway 97 - between Sand Springs and Sapulpa).
Sanctuary Information
Pets
We are happy to provide advice and answer behavior, diet, and wellness questions to anyone willing to learn and make improvements for their birds. Guides to care can be found here: DOVES /// PIGEONS
Rehoming
If you want to include Olive's Place in your estate planning to pre-arrange placement for your pet doves/pigeons, contact us to discuss your birds and ask if we are able to reserve future space. When requesting a pet surrender, expedite the process by sending photos and listing all information you have about the bird, including: age, gender, health conditions, known history, etc. When rehoming a pet, please do due diligence, ask questions, and thoroughly investigate potential homes. If Olive's Place suggests another resource, be aware that we do not endorse or certify any potential homes or other rescues, and it is up to the owner to determine safe placement.
Other Policies
Unless you have an explicit written agreement otherwise with Olive's Place, placing birds into our care transfers responsibility and guardianship/ownership of the birds to Olive's Place. We reserve the sole right to make all decisions for the health and safety of the birds, including but not limited to: housing, diet, vet care, and future transfers. In the case of injured adult wildlife, we may ask permission to re-release the bird back to the location at which they were found. Olive's Place complies with all state and federal regulations. Wildlife is illegal for unlicensed individuals to possess unless en route to place the animal in licensed care.
What We Don't Do
Olive's Place is not trained, licensed, or equipped to work with species other than pigeons/doves, under any circumstances - and does not have the knowledge or resources to reply to messages about other animals. We are unable to search for and catch birds, or transport rescues from far away. We do not remove "nuisance" animals. We do not investigate cruelty and neglect situations. We do not purchase, sell, ship, or breed birds. Olive's Place is an independent entity and not affiliated formally with other organizations or individuals. We do not receive public funding, and are not employed by any agency. We work solely on behalf of the birds we serve.
Sanctuary History
Founder/director Ashley has a life-long love for birds, and was enamored with street pigeons as a kid. As an adult looking for a way to give back, she interned at Farm Sanctuary to learn about caring for birds in a sanctuary setting. She then volunteered as a wildlife rehabilitator. One day a fallen dove nest with a newly hatched chick arrived - named Olive (and another egg about to hatch - her brother Trevor). While Trevor grew up healthy, Olive had lingering problems and did not survive. Olive's Place is named in her memory.
As Ashley continued to work with wildlife, she saw a gap in the animal rescue community. While dogs and cats have shelters and government-funded resources, birds have far fewer options. Pigeons and doves are often left out of farmed animal sanctuaries and parrot-centered bird rescues, and they don't always get help via wildlife rehab. These birds deserve resources, so Olive's Place was hatched! The sanctuary was founded in 2014 and became a 501c3 nonprofit in 2019.
Mission
Olive's Place was founded to give a chance at life to injured wild pigeons - providing a safe haven so that being disabled or un-releasable wouldn't be a death sentence. Pigeons are descended from domesticated birds and thrive in captivity with an aviary flock environment if given ample space. They are incredibly resilient and cope well with disabilities when provided modifications. Every bird here is treated as an important individual, and receives personalized attention and a high standard of care. While there are more birds in need than we have the capacity to take in, we have committed to offering the best quality of life possible, providing our flock with plenty of space, clean enclosures, good food, and medical care. We will always help as many birds as we can, while maintaining sustainability. A core element of the mission is also outreach and education, to inspire admiration for these birds and encourage micro-sanctuaries and rescuers to help doves and pigeons.
Can people visit the sanctuary?
Olive's Place is operated for the well-being of the birds who live here. As a sanctuary and private residence, it is NOT open to the public.
How can someone help?
Buy Art / Help Birds - shop our online art gallery!
Donate directly - paypal.me/olivesplacesanctuary
Amazon - Choose Olive's Place Dove and Pigeon Sanctuary Inc as your automatic Amazonsmile charity. Shopping works the same and it's free to add! Shop to support here: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/84-1874052
Learn more about what the sanctuary needs and view our How You Can Help page
Where can I see/purchase artwork?
Shop the Online Gallery page or visit the Art Information page for further details.