"IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE BIRDS" 
by Gail A. Paparian

We, the people can do some really strange things. We don't turn out in droves to vote; we make some pretty bad land 'useless' decisions; and we have a terrible history of fooling around with the atmosphere. Personally, I look forward to seeing what the ramifications are on development in the Coachella Valley now that the bighorn sheep have reached the Endangered Species list.

My, my, wouldn't it be wonderful if we left the mountains alone! No golf courses, not hotels, no signs.... You know, nothing! We need to protect our desert's greatest asset, the un-built in mountains and hillsides of the Coachella Valley. Yes, we the people do push the envelope too much.

I often think animals have more sense than humans. Their problem (the animals) is, they cannot always adequately communicate with us humans. If they're lost or worse, stolen, oft times that is a death sentence for them as well as excruciating pain and loss to their human companion.

We humans can carry all kinds of identification - from a driver's license, to business and credit cards. Of course this is also the friendly cell phone. If we get into trouble, we can reach out and tell someone. Animals, for the most part cannot. 

I met a woman who wants to change all that. Her name is Lindi Biggi and she has a mission. Lindi is a part-time Palm Desert resident who spends the other half of the year in Oregon. She is a bird lover and owns a throng of exotic and expensive birds.

Lindi also owns a business in Beaverton, Oregon called Bird Gardens. Her horror story began when a favorite pet bird, a Leadbeater Cockatoo named Major was 'birdnapped' from her store.

The next month of her life was a living nightmare. She expended considerable time and money to try to find and retrieve her $8,000 pet! The values and virtues of the Internet were put to the test. The word went out, messages and notices were posted throughout the world wide web.

Lindi was lucky. Police in Kansas stopped a blue van. A computer check indicated the van was stolen and lo and behold, stuffed in shoe boxes were other stolen reptiles, snakes and Major!

Lindi was lucky and knows it. Now, she has dedicated part of her very busy life to making certain that companion animals can be identified and protected for their lifetime. 

According to Lindi, the microchip is about the size of a grain of rice. The procedure is safe, inserted just like a vaccination and only takes a matter of seconds! Once the microchip is inserted, it can then be scanned and read by people who have the equipment (vets, animal shelters, humane societies, etc).

For years, Bill and I have maintained about 25 pets--- they're all stuffed animals. However, if we ever adopt another 'live' pet, I promise you, I would call my local vet and get my pet identified.

If you want to know more about the micro-chipping process, please call your veterinarian. If you would like to contact Lindi Biggi, try her at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .