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Patti has presented papers at the Association of Avian Veterinarians and continues to be an active member of this
professional association. She is a charter member of the Avian Behavior Council in MN, a group of aviculturally-related
business owners committed to parrot care education. This venue allowed her to create annual conferences with
nationally known speakers for the companion parrot caregiver. Patti has personally spoken at national conferences
and continues to attend veterinary, behavioral and avicultural continuing education programs.
In 1995, Patti became the caregiver for her first parrot, a Blue Fronted Amazon named Higgins. Higgins was medically and behaviorally debilitated when she was relinquished to the veterinary clinic. Patti researched how to provide the best care possible for her new “charge. This ignited a passion for getting the word out to all avian caregivers as to how to provide the best possible care. Today, Higgins is the picture of health and of “almost perfect” behavior! One would never guess her past challenges.
Patti continues to be humbled by her experiences with all of her eight birds, each of which came to her from other homes. She resides near Parker, Colorado with her feathered charges, three cats, and a very tolerant husband!
In 1995, Patti became the caregiver for her first parrot, a Blue Fronted Amazon named Higgins. Higgins was medically and behaviorally debilitated when she was relinquished to the veterinary clinic. Patti researched how to provide the best care possible for her new “charge. This ignited a passion for getting the word out to all avian caregivers as to how to provide the best possible care. Today, Higgins is the picture of health and of “almost perfect” behavior! One would never guess her past challenges.
Patti continues to be humbled by her experiences with all of her eight birds, each of which came to her from other homes. She resides near Parker, Colorado with her feathered charges, three cats, and a very tolerant husband!
Patti Christie, CVT
Gaye Thomasson
Patti has been involved in the veterinary medicine field for over thirty years. She became
a Certified Veterinary Technician in 1987 and has enjoyed a variety of veterinary related
positions, including that of practice manager. While working as a CVT, Patti completed
her degree as a registered nurse in 1998.
In 1999, Patti launched Avian Suites, a state of the art bird boarding facility in
Minneapolis, MN. This facility has been a model for aviculturists and veterinary
professionals to provide a safe, bio-secure environment. As CEO and General Manager,
Patti oversaw Avian Suites as this niche business' operations grew to 75% operating
capacity year round in just eight years. Patti sold AS in 2007, moved to Colorado, and
became the director of adoptions and education for a parrot welfare organization. In
2010, the opportunity presented itself to go back into veterinary medicine, and she is
currently a veterinary practice manager in Golden, CO.
Copyright © 2011 Avi-Ed Productions, L.L.C.
Gaye Thomasson brings a diverse array of talents and skills to Avi-Ed Productions, LLC.
Trained as a concert pianist, she has her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Piano Performance. After college, she sampled a variety of jobs, including playing in a rock and roll band and owning her own custom knitting business. Once married, Gaye decided to return to school and earned the equivalent of another masters degree and became a public school educator, where she stayed for sixteen years. Gaye taught elementary school, ending her teaching career in middle school, teaching seventh grade Language Arts and Social Studies. After retiring from teaching, she became involved in local issues, advocating for citizens’ rights. This led her to a three-year relationship with a parrot welfare organization in Colorado where she has been the volunteer Volunteer Coordinator, assisting with training and scheduling volunteers as well as arranging and presenting outreach/education programs. She has never left performing and teaching.
Trained as a concert pianist, she has her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Piano Performance. After college, she sampled a variety of jobs, including playing in a rock and roll band and owning her own custom knitting business. Once married, Gaye decided to return to school and earned the equivalent of another masters degree and became a public school educator, where she stayed for sixteen years. Gaye taught elementary school, ending her teaching career in middle school, teaching seventh grade Language Arts and Social Studies. After retiring from teaching, she became involved in local issues, advocating for citizens’ rights. This led her to a three-year relationship with a parrot welfare organization in Colorado where she has been the volunteer Volunteer Coordinator, assisting with training and scheduling volunteers as well as arranging and presenting outreach/education programs. She has never left performing and teaching.
Companion animals have always been part of Gaye’s life. As a child, her family had a dog and a long-lived parakeet named “Chipper.” As a
young adult, Gaye started her own menagerie, with dogs and a parakeet, learning by trial and error about training, diet and nutrition. After
marrying Robert, also an educator, more dogs came into the fold, and in 1990, Robert and Gaye adopted their first larger parrot, “Pancho,” a
Mexican Double Yellow Headed Amazon. Through classes and studying, Gaye became adept at clicker training her dogs, and at using
positive reinforcement with her growing feathered flock. Gaye now shares her home in the country in Elbert, Colorado with Robert, her husband
of 26 years, two dogs, two macaws, two Amazons (including Pancho, now 21 years of age), and a lovebird.