What's going to happen to your birds when your gone

Its a question many of us need to ask ourselfs. I didn't in the past as I knew I'd outlive them short of tragedy. That's different now.

I read so much about safe food, toys, cages for our birds but few of us have a plan for their well being after we're gone. I get a lot a birds that are victim to just that.

I know Lola will outlive me so I have made plans for her. She will go to a neice who Lola loves . God forbid she Pre-decreases Lola a vet assistant that sits for her will take her. Its in my will.

So what's everyone's plans ?

Be Big,
Alan

Part of my estate planning includes my bird. She will go to a lovely person who loves greys.

IF I should go soon due to tragedy, they will go to my sister, who will be getting my entire estate.

Down the road, I don't know yet. I'm hoping I will know when it's time to rehome them if they are going to outlive me. They are all older birds now. If I don't, I have a rescue/sanctuary in mind that I would like them to go to.

My horses are almost more of a concern. No one would really want them. It might actually be in their best interest to be euthanized. At least then I wouldn't have to worry about them ending up in a slaughter house.

It's also very hard to find homes for adult cats. I worry about her, too.

I only have one person, who would be interested in my birds, and at the moment she's only 7 years old... I'm hoping to live long enough for her to grow up... Max loves her and she loves him... She's great with all animals..

If something were to happen to both my husband and myself, I believe my parents would take in my birds. I really do need to start writing everything about them down so they would know how to take care of them if there were to be an unforseen accident to the both of us. I'm 32 and Pepper is 11, so it's possible she could outlive me even if I die from old age. I'm not sure who she would go to yet then, I do have two younger sisters, although not much younger.

I am hoping my little niece will turn out to be a bird person and they could go to her when I get too old/sick/whatever. There are also people on this forum who are within a 2 hour drive of me that seem like good people and are younger than me. They may be interested, or over the years I may also meet others here who would be.

I do have everything written down just in case so my family will know what to do as far as their care. No one in my family is a horse person, and they don't really have experience with larger birds; just budgies and cockatiels. And as some of you know, some of my animals have health issues. They need special diets and medications. And Merlin can't see, and both of my horses can only see out of one eye. Also, one of the horses is what we would have to call ancient; I don't think "senior" even describes him anymore!

Birds have been such a part of my life for so long. I have mentored a few young people, now adults, into the world of birds. One is an Avian Vet/ Behavior Consultant, another is a successful breeder, and one is a General Veterinarian. They are all still close friends and will step in to take any birds in my care at the time of my death. Or earlier, should that become an issue. I am 60 years old, and have no children, so, we have put things in place for this to happen, when necessary. We have discussed this here before, and it is always good to bring up again. Young people rarely think of this, and it is very important. Because, under the law, pets are considered property, and cannot inherit money for their continued care. So, people must be appointed for such concerns. Many of our birds can easily outlive us, cosidering the excellent care we are giving them. As many of you know, my grandfathers Grey (my Jessye) lived over 40 years, outliving him. I was glad to care for Jessye for the rest of his days.

Wills have been a subject in my dog training clubs , so it's something I have made sure I took care off right away.
Doing all the traveling during the trial season gets you thinking about the what ifs ....

I have alot of animals I will leave behind and all of them have homes to go to when the inevitable happens.
I can tell you that you may change things from time to time too.
People change and so due their living situations. So have a backup plan as well.
Roxynoodle , I felt the same about some of my past animals too.
I know they wouldnt do well in somebody else home , regardless of who it is , so I completely understand . It sometimes gives you peace of mind knowing that they will not suffer when your gone.

I had a elderly woman come into my vets office years ago and said she wanted her dog who was 13 years old put down.
We told her that we dont put healthy animals to sleep , but we will help with re homing her.
Well , she wanted the dog put down because she was all alone and she was just diagnosed with terminal cancer and she doesnt want to worry about her beloved dog falling into the wrong hands and suffering. She would feel better she was put down.
We totally understood her reasoning . It was a hard decision for my vet to make . But, after talking with the woman , I became fond of her , she was the cutest thing , I wanted to adopt her !
Well , I ended up taking her dog , the woman trusted me enoug after we got to know each other , and she was at peace with the thought of Toby spending her days with me. I became very close with Ginnie , I called her grandma all the time and she called me her adopted daughter She died knowing her beloved Toby was going to be fine and loved dearly, and she was. Toby was a dog that never knew what toys were. Just that she was never given any really . So , I tried to play with her and interact but when i would throw the toy , Toby was so happy about it , but she ran the opposite way for some reason , very happy , but the wrong way. That was Toby , if that made her happy , it was fine with me , lolol. She was the cutest little dog , half corgie and half cocker spaniel. She was always happy , and so was Ginnie , even though she knew she was dying.
She said being happy changes everything. I will always remember that. Because when times are tough and you think you have it bad , someone else always has it worse.
Toby went back to her mother at the age of 18.

lovemytooo...I had a similar thing happen to me when I worked for SPCA. A man saw our segment on local TV about adopting animals, and contacted us about his birds. I was "the bird guy", and met with him. He was old, and worried about what would happen to his birds when/if he died 'cause he had no family. We became good friends, and I eventually wound up with all of his birds when he died about 2 years later. There were many...mostly pigeons, and parakeets, and canaries. He had an old Scarlet Macaw that died less than a year after him. She liked me, but, I think she died of a broken heart, missing him. Someday, I'll have to tell you guys about "Old Jim". A very interesting man. It was an honor to have known him, and to take his birds.

I'm only 19, so I know my chances of out living Merlin are high. However I am ill, and I could end up dying a lot sooner than expected. If that was the case then my other half would have Merlin and the budgies or I'd be getting in touch with the birdline in the UK. A very respectable parrot rescue that helps rehab and rehome parrots - and people are properly vetted before a parrot is placed with them. I doubt I would get a long living animal in my later years, I just couldn't bare the thought of them not having their mummy around for them any more and them not understanding why I'd just left. eurg.

I should probably edit that saying that my other half would get Merlin and the guys, unless he was also unable, due to illness/death etcetcetc. A rescue would not have priority over Merlin's daddy ^^

I adopted Pete and Merlin because they were older birds. I was very reluctant to get a new baby bird after Brianna passed, due to my age and illness. I know I will have to get my horse Roxy some kind of companion when Malone dies (he is 31), but it will be an older horse/pony or a goat. I can't rehome Roxy because I am the only person she lets handle her. I didn't plan it that way, thinking since I could give her shots, handle her feet, get on her, etc, that she was "trained". No, she is absolutely evil about letting other people do more than brush or kiss her. And being half blind and not having been ridden since she lost her eye, I don't see anyone wanting to spend the time working with her. She is too old now for breeding. That's why I worry about her the most. I don't think anyone else would want to deal with her.

So other than some sort of companion for Roxy, I have no plans to get anymore animals. And one of my neighbors may even be willing to let me have one of their horses to live over here with her just to have one less to take care of themselves.
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