I'm so sad I need advice

My M2 Goliath died 5 months ago today and I can't get through it, My heart is so broken. He died May 6,2013 he would've been 13 april fools day. I always thought his birthday suited him because he was such a nut.
You"d think you an your companions would be safe at home. I took all precautions to keep him safe. I didn't even use chemicals for cleaning resorting to steam cleaning an good ole scrubbing. He lead a blessed life,at least I thought so. He had his own bedroom with a 10 by 10 foot aviary attached so he could come in and out as he pleased. he was never caged. I always felt like God didn't put im in a cage an neither was I. He was not a pet but a part of my family. anyway.
We were having the house painted. The first thing they did was tear down his aviaries so he was temporarily running loose through the house, which normally was no big deal, our house was bird friendly, nothing ever left where Goliath could hurt himself. I had told the painters specifically not to let him get near the paints an keep chemicals put up. They assured me that he was fine bein free while they were working an they thought he was neat And Goliath was fascinated with them. he followed them everywhere just watching. Well anyway He and I were on the porch enjoying the day an I had to go in for a minute, I asked the painter if he minded me leaving Goliath out for 5 minutes while I went in for tea. When I came back out this 25 year old man was feeding him paint right off the paintbrush. I ran over an grabbed him a washed his mouth and throat out,,, This is where i'll blame myself till I die. I didn't take him straight to the vet, and I didn't read the label on the paint can. I asked the guy what he was doing. I was freaking out. The guy promised me the paint was not poisonous and was non toxic he said "my kids could eat this" and I believed him instead of looking at the can myself. Three days later I went to get him up for breakfast and he didn't want to eat, he just wanted to lay on my shoulder and be loved on. "which was our morning ritual" at first I didn't think too much about it, but he wasn"t acting right. So I took him to the vet. At the time I didn't know what was wrong with him. But he died that day, right in the vets office. Monday he was on my shoulder singing with me while I played my guitar, Tuesdayhe was gone.
The first few weeks I was in a fog I couldn't think Then the vet sent me a letter telling me he did bloodwork on Goliath because he was such a healthy bird he wanted to make sure he didn't have a disease,He asked me if Goliath had access to any chemicals because he had ethelene glychol in his blood and it shut his kidneys down.
Now I am so guilt ridden I let that man come into my home and feed my baby poisen and I didn't do anything, I raised him from an egg practically. I had just found out that Molucaan cockatoos were an endangered species. Do I sue him? There"s a law against killing endangered species isn"t there? I want justice. I want my baby back. has this happened to anyone here?what did you do?

I'm so sorry this happened, such a terribly sad tale. Although M2's are endangered their captive population is doing fine. The idea that someone would feed a parrot paint is just awful, didn't you ask them to keep the paint away from your M2? Did you have them sign any contracts?

I don't think the individual should be sued, but the company maybe. That way they will make new rules about pet safety so this doesn't happen to anyone else. You may also be able to get the individual for animal cruelty charges.

I know that this is very hard to hear, but it was your mistake to leave your bird with a stranger even if only for a few minutes. It couldn't of been foreseen, and was really awful. I hope this never happens to anyone else

That is so awful, I am so very sorry ......I had the bird room built last year and kept the birds tucked in an area away and locked. Stupid people out there, you can't trust anyone.

I would pursue this. It won't get your bird back, however, the painter's job was to paint your house not feed your bird toxic paint. You have the necropsy result and you actually saw him do it. Granted your bird was free and he could say that he got on the paint and ate it, it is your word against him unfortunately... . Hopefully you did contact the guy and told him what he did.....if too late to save your bird, maybe he will think twice about doing that again. I would also contact the company and let them know.

Forgiving yourself is the best solution. When you feel the memory of the situation coming up in your memory, tell yourself that you forgive yourself for any mistakes that you made have made, and remind yourself that no one is perfect and that we all learn as we go through life.

What a terrible story, I'm so sorry.

I'm inclined to agree with Copperarabian that there's a lesson - to all of us reading this - that trusting people we don't know too well with our loved ones is fraught with danger, but it's one of those situations that 99 times in 100 would been fine. To be honest with you I suspect I would have done exactly what you did in leaving the bird in the care of the decorator for a few minutes. I wouldn't for a second have thought that anyone would be so irresponsible and ignorant to feed paint to an animal, no matter what he thought was in it: in fact I wouldn't dream of giving anything to any pet without asking the owner if it were ok - it shows a lack of respect to the animal and the owner. So it's hard to imagine that anyone else would behave so differently.

Not knowing where you are in the world it's hard to know what to advise in terms of legal action. In the UK I suspect it would be expensive and financially risky to sue, but this may not be the case in the US and elsewhere.

Jayyj said:

I wouldn't for a second have thought that anyone would be so irresponsible and ignorant to feed paint to an animal,

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No, it's pretty much up the top of stupidity.

I would write to the company and set out what happened and would expect an apology. You can't get your bird back. I wouldn't take any other action, it would be very unpleasant and prolong your period of grief rather than letting you move on, but it's something that only you can decide.

So sorry.

I'm so sorry. What an idiotic, careless man!

Goliath had a wonderful life full of happiness and love with you. Please forgive yourself. (((hugs)))

I think I would send a letter, along with the vet bill and the test results to the painter who allowed your bird to eat the paint. Is he licensed and bonded.

I know here in California you can contact the CSLB and report him for being so negligent with your bird, and file a claim against his bond.

Would he allow his child to eat the paint? So sorry for your loss.