Story of Emu House

Emu House a New Public Charity for Emu Rescue, Resource, and Education

By Kathy Alward, Editor Emu Today and Tomorrow Magazine

There is exciting news in the world of emu farming and ownership. Emu House, a not for profit 501 c3 has recently been formed as a national organization and they have big plans! It is one of two organizations in the US that focuses specifically on emu, though Emu House will focus on rescue, care, and education for all emu owners, with a focus on agriculture. There is also an Ethically Sourced certification program for producers who sell emu oil and value-added products.

For several years, as vice president of the American Emu Association, Kymara Lonergan has often fielded phone calls from people with general questions about emus or more specific ones on raising, feeding, and handling the flightless bird. As Lonergan pondered how she could be of more help in responding to inquiries from emu farmers and the public, thinking it might be more work than she could handle, she received a phone call from a man in Arizona. His daughter’s emu had escaped. Although law enforcement tried their best, the emu died shortly after being captured. The officers were untrained in how to handle the emu properly. The conversation further motivated Lonergan to do something.

Lonergan, who serves as the founder and president of Emu House Incorporated, a rescue, resource, and education association, intentionally formed the organization as a 501(c)(3) entity; in doing so, the Internal Revenue Service designates it as a public charity, qualifying it for donations that other entities cannot receive. For example, Emu House can be a recipient of estate planning and has access to many kinds of grants, funding, and methods to educate the public.

Since Emu House is a public charity, there are no membership fees, and the volunteers can talk to anyone who raises emu. Whether it’s a new emu farmer looking for information or an experienced one looking to retire, Emu House can help.

Some of Lonergan’s educational goals for Emu House include:

• Teaching farmers how to generate income through diversification. For example, adding emu products to traditionally made dairy, fowl, and crops and selling manure. Lonergan describes it as starting with an “Emu 101” course.

• Creating a public education hatchery facility and encouraging emu education in schools.

  • Creating a model co-op of emu farmers in the New York Tri-State and New England areas as a pilot program for other states.

• Relocating loose emu to an agricultural environment if the original owner can no longer care for their birds, and helping aging farmers rehome their stock in preparation for retirement.

  • Creating an organic feed program with Green Mountain Feeds to generate a certified organic program for emu meat, fat, and feathers.

• Assisting struggling farmers with healthy, discounted feed through donations.

  • Educating the public about the realities of emu ownership, the history of emus, and their cultural importance to Indigenous peoples.

• Establishing a helpline for farmers who need resources for themselves or their emus.

• Teaching the humane capture of loose birds to public officials, emergency responders, and the general public

Lonergan has experience working with first responders and law enforcement since she founded a Medical Reserve Corps unit. Now, she is looking forward to approaching various law enforcement agencies and first responder volunteers to set up a program that teaches them how to respond to an emu-related emergency without hurting the birds or themselves. Emu House also has a volunteer board of directors who are educated in relevant professions and are willing to help others, including a medical doctor who can offer expertise on emu interactions with humans and a high-end emu oil producer considered an expert in their field. In the near future, the organization hopes to secure a volunteer veterinarian to help identify the symptoms of Avian influenza (bird flu).

There is even an honorary board member—Prairie Prince, a touring rock star who designs the advertisements and branding for Emu House. Prairie Prince is a drummer and one of the founding members of the band The Tubes; he is also a visual artist and has created album cover artwork for many artists and set designs for Micheal Jackson, Bette Milder, Billy Joel, and more. Lonergan has worked with him previously and appreciates his unwavering support of emus and the humane treatment of animals. Prairie Prince will attend Emu House meetings when available, as he is currently touring with musician Todd Rundgren.

Emu House shares 33 acres with Thunderhorse Hollow Farm in the Hudson Valley of New York State, which is proximal to Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and the southern states of New England. While planning to expand its reach throughout the United States and beyond educational events will be held via Zoom, social media, and telephone. Although Lonergan has lots of room for emus to graze and live (and is currently establishing a silvopasture), she wishes not to bring abandoned birds in and out of Emu House due to the bird flu. Instead, she intends to place the emus in a position where people looking for emus can adopt them.

Lonergan’s enthusiasm for the emu industry is undeniable. She says, “We are doing this not for us; it is for the birds that sometimes don’t get treated well, and we are doing it for the people who have emus, so good support and education are in place. Without education, you won’t be a successful farmer or owner of birds. Education is the key to success.”

Used by permission of Emu Today and Tomorrow magazine.

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