Re-homing. Not so easy, is it?

When I got Fred, my Umbrella Cockatoo I was struck by how fast I wanted to re-home him. I have always taken animal adoption very seriously and once an animal came to live with me, he/she stayed with me until their death.

But Fred was different. He was not a bird but rather a little person with feathers. An annoying, clinging, bratty person. I felt my emotions swinging from love to revulsion.

So I place an ad on Craig's list, describing Fred (the good and the bad) while insisting that the person who took Fred must have experience with Cockatoos.

And for some reason I always attract the nut jobs. Here are examples of the doozies I received.

1.One guy who told me his friend would come by and pick him up. I told him that Fred was not dry cleaning and if he wanted him he needed to meet him.
2. Another guy who said he use to own a cockatoo but didn't know what kind (Come on, man, you know what kind of bird you use to own). And then got all giddy when I told him that Fred could swear.
3. One young woman told me that she use to have a Goffin but had to get rid of him because of his screaming. Really, you think an Umbrella is quieter than a Goffin? Then she kept wanting me to down the price until I was giving Fred away for free. If you can't afford the bird, what kind of cage are we looking at?
4. Then I had a woman call me to tell me how good she was with her own female cockatoo. That's ten minutes I won't be getting back.

I soon found out that getting a cockatoo was hard but re-homing one was even harder. But I know Fred has to be re-homed just like so many cockatoos, if not for anything more than the fact that they live forever. So if you don't get one at the age of ten, chances are he/she will be looking at many homes to come.

Think about it.

I guess everyone’s different. When I called about my boy Parker, his family just wanted someone to pick him up. They clearly loved him very much but weren’t too keen on diehard vetting. They were VERY hesitant for a meet and greet. Did they really expect a serious potential future owner to just see a craigslist as and come grab him?

I like your approach better.

I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. It keeps me from crying.

I told Fred when I picked him up, if it didn't work out, I would do my damnest to make sure the next home would. Parker was very lucky.

Kentuckienne said:

I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. It keeps me from crying.

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The whole experience was surreal.

Are you still convinced Fred must be re-homed?

All of my birds are rescues (though Gonzo came from a loving home that thoroughly vetted me and I paid a decent chunk of change) all the others pretty much came to me, no questions asked. I've paid nothing for almost all of them, besides some to another rescuer offloading some to me because I know the kind of work he does for them.

It breaks my heart when people see only dollars and treat them like a commodity. Most of mine are more like "foster fails" as my intent was to get them healthy and find a permanent home, though I've had a few pass away from long standing health issues that were beyond my control (two from cancer!)

I know it's hard, but don't give up. Reach out to a shelter if you need to, even if he stays at your home for the time being.

Folks who work in rescue can share a bunch of crazy stories, too! I've had someone want to adopt a bird that talks so that the *bird* could teach their *baby* to talk! Another guy wanted a bird, any kind of bird, so long as it could ride around sitting on his dog's back like he'd seen in videos. And, yes, cockatoos are extremely hard to place well - they get tons of interest because everyone has visions of a cool fun pet, but 98% of those who inquire have no idea of the reality of owning a 'too.

Thanks for the very sobering thread, eagle18. Very sobering. We really should think hard about these things. I love the rescuers and adopters here, and I respect you for giving it a good try, and maybe even more for doing such a responsible job of rehoming.

eagle18 said:

I have always taken animal adoption very seriously and once an animal came to live with me, he/she stayed with me until their death.

But Fred was different. He was not a bird but rather a little person with feathers. An annoying, clinging, bratty person. I felt my emotions swinging from love to revulsion.

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I appreciate what you're saying here but it also makes me question what did you think an umbrella cockatoo (or a cockatoo in general) would be like? I think they are all generally like this...clingy, bratty, annoying, all are the normal qualities of a cockatoo. Swinging emotions, yep. They are very much like toddlers in that sense, needy and demanding and tantrums to boot, not for a few years but for their entire lives. But from what you said it sounds to me like you took him on without knowing this is common behavior. What exactly were you expecting from him?

I had been to parrot workshops, rescues, and read 'mytoos' until I could recite it. That was the extent of my education.

I doubt anyone really knows what to expect.

Scott said:

Are you still convinced Fred must be re-homed?

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I am afraid he will be, and will be, and will be,.............