Originally published March 28, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified March 28, 2007 at 9:31 PM

Rescued budgies all adopted within 2 hours

One hundred budgies rescued by the Seattle Animal Shelter and put up for adoption Tuesday afternoon were gone within two hours after the...

By Brian Alexander

Seattle Times staff reporter

One hundred budgies rescued by the Seattle Animal Shelter and put up for adoption Tuesday afternoon were gone within two hours after the shelter opened Wednesday morning.

The parking lot was full and dozens of adopters filled a line that circled around the inside of the building, said Michael Kokernak, an animal-care officer.

"I was sweating and I didn't even look up. I was trying to catch birds for two hours," he said. "It was inspiring to see people come and help out."

The shelter announced Tuesday afternoon that it was giving away budgies rescued from unsanitary conditions in a University District apartment.

Of the 110 budgies rescued, 10 were sent to a vet and 100 were put up for adoption. The city is not pursuing animal-cruelty charges, according a city news release.

About 80 people ended up with at least one bird, and some who waited in line had to be turned away, Kokernak said

"It was crazy," he said. "It was a sight to see."

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