As you may or may not be aware I have had an on going battle with Pets at Home, mainly about the state of their birds. Today I decided to take another trip to our local store just to check on the birds again, which I've been doing for a long time now. What a lovely surprise I got, They have had their bird licence taken away from them.

This has made me really happy, it means now that they will no longer be able to sell on sick birds to unsuspecting people, and no more will birds come to them only to suffer neglect. Please if you have any concerns about any pet stores in your area then let the proper authorities know so we can stop these stores from selling birds.

I do feel that I have to say there are many pet stores out there who DO look after the birds they have and are knowledgeable about them.

Congrats Peta, that is really great to hear. Having worked at a pet store I would like to see them no longer having parrots for sale. I have come to learn that they are neglected (without showing any signs) I know that at many of these birds are not fed fruits and vegetables daily only a seed or pellet formula. I got Popsicle from a pet store where she had been for over a year and not once had she been vet checked (which i was told they were done every week) She ended up having a vitamin A defeciency, which thankfully is not a major problem and easy enough to fix.

Problems at many of these places are the employees are not knowledgable about the care of birds and a bird can home to anyone that has the money. This leaves many of the birds to be rescued down the road (If they are lucky enough to get that far)

However I do know there are a few stores that are great with birds and very knowlegable (typically locally owned and operated stores not these big franchise stores)

I would personally like to see these larger franchises (Petsmart, Petland, etc.) stop selling birds. I think most people should be interviewed before being allowed to have a bird, then a surprise inspection to see what the birds environment is and if its safe for the bird. I'm being a little over the top but after getting Pepsi I never want just anyone to have a parrot again.

For everyone reading this thinking of getting another parrot please check out parrot adoptions there are so many unwanted parrots out there that need a "forever home"

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My local Petco (where I got Hamlet) isn't real knowledgable about specifics of the individual bird breeds, BUT they are CARED for VERY WELL and they aren't sick birds ... That being said, would I buy there again ... well, only if there were no other options ... BUT this little multi-colored fid on my shoulder right now is very happy that I did business there at least once ... you just never know where you are going to get picked ...

the Pet land hear has the birds in too small cages and they are a little anti social but nothing major however their prices on everything is sooo outragious it's a wonder they stay in business I mean a toy that's 8 bucks at petsmart is 16 there!!! and even the smallest cockatiel toys are around 10 bucks

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Maybe we could start a thread for adoptions. Make it into a sticky so that everyone can see it.

If you know of any Rescue places in your area, let me know and I'll get it done.

Thanks.

While we are on the subject of 'bashing' pet shops I do want to tell you about one very cool one I went to last week.

The birds at this shop are handled everyday. They are allowed out on play stands and you (as the customer) are encouraged to interact with the birds while you shop (cause they are on playstands all over the store). The fiancee and I actually had our first B&G Mac experience there (a very sweet 4 month old ... you try shopping with a B&G on your arm and see what happenes )

The staff is very intellegent about the specifics of the breeds that they have in the store. The cages are large enough and CLEAN, AND there was even fresh veggies in the food dishes!

Check out their website, www.parrotsafari.biz it's a small company, but their approach to selling birds is innovative.

~ Tex

Tex, I'm not bashing ALL pet stores, just the large ones that don't have a clue between a bird and a cat, who don't check the bird over, and who knowingly sell ill birds. (All of which I know this store in my original post did do, they even tried to sell a Rosella as a cockatiel ) Anyway, I love the one you are talking about, I would love to go there, It sounds awesome.

Nicole, does that Rescue have a website? Sounds brilliant for the birds.

Tracy, I'll get the thread set up and hopfully it will grow larger so we can have a great base of Rescue sites.

Wow Tex that Parrot store makes me want to just go visit NH, Wonder how far of a drive that would be? I'm only bashing the large franchise stores that sell birds. I love to see these smaller stores specifically for parrots because usually someone who loves birds and knows a lot about them runs the store. Unlike these franchise stores where the owners just want to make money

Peta I will look into finding some more Parrot adoption and rescue places in Canada to post on the new thread. I'm really excited about it (I do have a special place in my heart for rescues having one myelf) I think we should put a special note for people to read about what they will be taking on with a rescue. I'm sure you agree with me Peta that a rescue bird is a whole different challenge from others, so worthwhile and rewarding though!!!

I realize how worthwhile it is when I see Pepsi get mad at her foot toys and drop them, then wait 2 minutes later and do her turkey gobble so mom will go pick it up and give it back to her to play with. (Yeah she does a turkey imitation when every she wants something) We adopted a strange bird but what a wonderful personality thats finally shining through!!!

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The website is http://www.knapp-time.com


I was talking about their adoption process with my parents yesterday and they got really upset, saying that it was outrageous to expect that much time and commitment out of people that just want a bird. My dad kept referring to it as a cult (I don't know why, he's odd like that), and my mom was going on about how you wouldn't be able to get an Amazon or a Macaw as a bird if you hadn't had a bird before.

All I could do was laugh at them and say that maybe if they had gone through something like that before they got Sisqo, he wouldn't have been locked up in his cage for the past 10 years eating sunflower seeds, and now he wouldn't have liver disease. That shut them up

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NICOLE

"If the Grey is the college intellectual then the Amazon is the class clown!"

Definately agree there 100% I think its a great idea. I'll get started on it.