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Community Corner

Policeman Serves With a Soft Spot for Birds

This week's Patch Portraits also feature a Niles cancer survivor who became an author and a Glenview woman who changed careers to change kids' lives.

This week's Patch Portraits also feature a Niles cancer survivor and a Glenview woman .

Richard Weiner, a lieutenant with Glencoe's Public Safety Department, has a soft spot for an unusual type of victim: exotic birds.

Along with his wife Karen, Weiner runs a bird shelter from his Northbrook home.

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Together they care for more than 70 homeless exotic birds.

Earlier:

Find out what's happening in Winnetka-Glencoewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I was a brand new beat cop, walking a beat, and happened to see a guy walking around with a Moluccan cockatoo on his shoulder. I was fascinated by the interaction," said Weiner.

After months of research, he took in his own African Grey and would often bring the bird to work with him, even taking it out on patrols.

"People would see me and they'd start asking questions. Then suddenly I had people saying 'I can't take care of this bird anymore.' I get a couple here, a couple there. Then my vet would give me a few," said Weiner.  

At this point he began an informal adoption process to assure the health of the bird by getting it tested for diseases, and then he would find it a suitable home.

Weiner started to notice the humane thing to do was not necessarily the most affordable. He searched the area for a bird shelter but found there were none. "I thought, well this is obviously what I need to be doing."

Now, the shelter, A Refuge For Saving Wildlife, is a full-fledged nonprofit supported by a number of devoted volunteers.

Click on the video link above to hear more from Weiner about his organization. 

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