I have a dream

There is a blue and gold macaw that I want to rescue someday. Her name is Debbie, and she lives in a pet store in South Dakota. She has been there since I was a tiny, tiny girl, in a cage no wider than 3 feet at the most. A glass front, plastic walls, one perch, and a sign asking you not to tap the glass. I asked once if she ever comes out, and was laughed at. I believe I was 10 when I asked, I am nearing 24 now. That’s when I decided I wanted to save her. Debbie was the first large parrot I ever saw in person. My family travels to the town where she lives every summer, and I used to go see her when I went with them. I have a grand dream of walking in with a wad of cash and asking to see the manager, or better yet the owner! And laying down $100 bills until he sells her to me. Of course by this time she is probably a horrible biter and likely will scream when brought home, though I have spent hours in the store over the years and have never heard her scream. She talks, I believe she says somewhere close to 30 words, though that is not that important to me. Anyway, I was thinking about her just now, and wondering when I will be able to afford that, and have the time to care for her the way she needs. I just thought I would share it with you.

That is sad and to common story. I can only hope that you can see your dream to fruition.

That is a beautiful dream. I wish they would give you the bird. I hope it comes true.

I bet you that Debbie has the same dream.

If you make this happen, it will be a truly remarkable and wonderful story.

You should call and find out how much they would sell her for. Just to see if it's in the realm of possibility at this time. I would definitely contribute to a Bring Debbie Home Fund.

I understand how you feel. At a small town pet store, not even 10 minutes from my house there is a scarlet macaw, very old and in poor health, that I wish I could save. Someone had to of abandoned him for the store to have the poor bird. I know that the people, although trying, don't know how to take care of him and there aren't any av vets anywhere nearby to help bring him to better health. It breaks my heart to see this poor old macaw sit there alone in his poor health, but I cannot afford to save him. I feel your heartache SilverSage.

BirdyMomma I might take you up on that someday I believe Debbie is about 5 years older than I am, I don't know how long the pet store has been there. Every time I go (it has been a few years since I have been in the area, but my sister tells me she was still there this summer) I walk in with both the fear she will no longer be there, and the fear that she will.

You might go talk to them and see if they would agree to sell her on a payment plan. Or else you might save up little by little until you have enough. If you're working, a good way to save money back without spending it is to have $10 extra taken out of your check so that you get a bigger return back from the government. You get a lump sum back which might be enough to buy the bird.

Sadly this is just the exact same thing I see every time we go to the pet store so I know how you feel. A large macaw in a tiny cage with next to nothing to play with. Never out of that cage I asked if they would sell theirs and they said no. It attracts people into the store is my guess.

Yes, I might be able to do that, but right now we live in Hawaii, she lives in South Dakota. The import restrictions here are unbelievable, and well, the price of living here is astronomical. Also, we are newly married, paying off school debts, and we have a car payment (our LAST car payment, we hope!) It is our goal to be debt free before our 5 year anniversary. So even if I could physically get my hands on her, it would be something that financially we are not ready to take on right now. In addition we are *thinking* about beginning to have children, and *discussing* me going back to school (with no debt). Also I have just started a business, already have quite a large flock of my own, and still feel like I am 100% drowning in this whole "army wife" role.

Wow, when I type it all out it sounds like she will never be mine I can still hope though! And yeah, she brings people in I am sure - she brought me in. But she isn't even at the front. You can't see her from the door

That really is a very touching story. I hope one day you will bring her home, and even if she doesn't show it physically I just know that she will be forever thankful to you. And that kind of bond is priceless. The fact that you expect her to be bitey and loud, and you're still so driven to bring her home, that says allot.

I hope one day she is in a wonderful home, and you seem like a great person to do it.