Birdman666
Well-known member
- Sep 18, 2013
- 9,904
- 258
- Parrots
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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Once again, this started out as a response to another thread, and I was asked to post it as a separate thread:
NOT ALL RESCUES ARE CREATED EQUAL. IN FACT, NOT ALL RESCUES ARE ACTUALLY RESCUES...
Let me tell you about one of the "rescues" I volunteered with for only a few weeks (and trust me that was enough) in NorCal.
First of all, there was no actual "rescue" per se. They made a website, with a bunch of sad sack looking birds, (most of which were downloaded from sites like mytoos) then set up a link for donations, and a number to donate your unwanted bird...
They used "volunteer" labor to do all the bird care, and cleaning of cages, etc. Volunteers were also expected to "donate" toys, food, water, their homes, and their time and training... the birds they care for are Foster birds. The birds, however, belong to the rescue unless the person paying for the toys, food, and spending their time providing care, also paid an "adoption fee" to the rescue. (You had to sign a contract saying that, in order to be allowed the privilege of providing care...)
On paper, these fees go to pay for things like vet care, etc. ONLY THING IS THE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEERED TO CARE FOR THESE ANIMALS ENDED UP BEING OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE THINGS. Now mind you all of these birds were "surrendered" parrots. Free birds, with free cages, and often free toys as well.
SO IF THE RESCUE WASN'T PAYING FOR FOOD, OR CAGES, OR VET CARE, OR LABOR, OR RENT, OR REALLY ANYTHING... WHERE DID THE "DONATIONS" AND ADOPTION FEES REALLY GO?!
They went to pay for the guy who "owned" the rescue's (that never existed) house, car payment, utility bills, etc. He didn't actually work. He just drove around meeting people, accepting donations, stroking egos, lining up "volunteers," picking up free parrots... and keeping up appearances. And lining his pockets, and taking credit for the care that was actually performed by other people. Needless to say, I wasn't associated with these guys for more than a few weeks once I figured out what's going on. Well intentioned volunteers helping these people are only "enablers."
I ALSO WORKED WITH LEGITIMATE RESCUES THAT REALLY DID GOOD WORK, AND NEEDED THE DONATIONS AND SUPPORT. THAT WASN'T THIS GUY... AND THAT'S THE THING WITH THESE SCAMMER OUTFITS. THEY TAKE AWAY RESOURCES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING GOOD AND NEED THE HELP!!! Good rescues still need Fosters, and I fostered for many years (and provided food and toys to many of my fosters.) But legit rescues provide vet care, and legit placement services, and legit bird handling and care classes. NOT IT'S GONNA COST YOU THIS MUCH TO WALK OUTTA HERE WITH A BIRD TODAY. And they taught the people doing the care, how to do it properly BEFORE allowing them to Foster, and made sure they actually did it. There were policies and procedures in place, to insure proper care, and they were followed.
ALWAYS CHECK IT OUT BEFORE WRITING THE CHECK. FIND OUT IF IT'S LEGIT... THAT'S THE LESSON.
When enough people refused to volunteer (i.e. be used and scammed) anymore, this guy suddenly found himself with a house full of birds that no one wanted, no money coming in, and no one but himself to care for them, or pay for food and care. At that point he shut down "the scam" and was forced to surrender "his" birds to a legitimate rescue.. Cuz he sure as hell wasn't gonna pay for anything. IT WAS ALWAYS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. (And at the good rescues, it's all about the welfare of the birds.)
Many other "rescues" out there are nothing more than Hoarders. These are mentally ill people who are taking in anything and everything because they love animals and are deluded into believing that this is their calling in life, but in reality, they have NO resources coming in to actually care for these animals. The animals in that situation go from the frying pan, into the fire... ending up suffering, or dead, or needing to be rescued from the rescue. Visit even one of these places and you'll know! THE STENCH IS UNGODLY!!!
And then there are the FLIPPERS... there is no rescue, they post the bird the next day on Craig's list or take them to the flea market, or second hand bird shops, or what have you, and sell them for a profit. Get as much as you can for free, and see what you can get for it. The welfare of the animal is NOT a real concern, or even, a concern at all. $$$. If these guys are scammers or flippers. Your bird will be taking a trip to "the mill."
IT DOES HAPPEN!!! Lesson there is check it out thoroughly before surrendering your bird!!!
ONCE YOU SIGN YOUR BIRD AWAY, HE'S NO LONGER YOURS. YOU CAN'T GET HIM BACK!!! EVEN IF THEY LIED TO YOU TO GET HIM.
Things happen. Hormonal parrots run amuck. Children come into the world and get attacked. Situations sometimes change from healthy to unhealthy. People die, and no one is able to care for the bird. There are many legitimate reasons where it may be where it is best for both the bird and the people to rehome... and that happens from time to time, especially with toos.
WHEN it happens, THINK BEFORE YOU PLACE...
DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. DON'T GIVE YOUR BIRD TO A FLIPPER OR A HOARDER.
NOT ALL RESCUES ARE CREATED EQUAL. IN FACT, NOT ALL RESCUES ARE ACTUALLY RESCUES...
Let me tell you about one of the "rescues" I volunteered with for only a few weeks (and trust me that was enough) in NorCal.
First of all, there was no actual "rescue" per se. They made a website, with a bunch of sad sack looking birds, (most of which were downloaded from sites like mytoos) then set up a link for donations, and a number to donate your unwanted bird...
They used "volunteer" labor to do all the bird care, and cleaning of cages, etc. Volunteers were also expected to "donate" toys, food, water, their homes, and their time and training... the birds they care for are Foster birds. The birds, however, belong to the rescue unless the person paying for the toys, food, and spending their time providing care, also paid an "adoption fee" to the rescue. (You had to sign a contract saying that, in order to be allowed the privilege of providing care...)
On paper, these fees go to pay for things like vet care, etc. ONLY THING IS THE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEERED TO CARE FOR THESE ANIMALS ENDED UP BEING OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE THINGS. Now mind you all of these birds were "surrendered" parrots. Free birds, with free cages, and often free toys as well.
SO IF THE RESCUE WASN'T PAYING FOR FOOD, OR CAGES, OR VET CARE, OR LABOR, OR RENT, OR REALLY ANYTHING... WHERE DID THE "DONATIONS" AND ADOPTION FEES REALLY GO?!
They went to pay for the guy who "owned" the rescue's (that never existed) house, car payment, utility bills, etc. He didn't actually work. He just drove around meeting people, accepting donations, stroking egos, lining up "volunteers," picking up free parrots... and keeping up appearances. And lining his pockets, and taking credit for the care that was actually performed by other people. Needless to say, I wasn't associated with these guys for more than a few weeks once I figured out what's going on. Well intentioned volunteers helping these people are only "enablers."
I ALSO WORKED WITH LEGITIMATE RESCUES THAT REALLY DID GOOD WORK, AND NEEDED THE DONATIONS AND SUPPORT. THAT WASN'T THIS GUY... AND THAT'S THE THING WITH THESE SCAMMER OUTFITS. THEY TAKE AWAY RESOURCES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING GOOD AND NEED THE HELP!!! Good rescues still need Fosters, and I fostered for many years (and provided food and toys to many of my fosters.) But legit rescues provide vet care, and legit placement services, and legit bird handling and care classes. NOT IT'S GONNA COST YOU THIS MUCH TO WALK OUTTA HERE WITH A BIRD TODAY. And they taught the people doing the care, how to do it properly BEFORE allowing them to Foster, and made sure they actually did it. There were policies and procedures in place, to insure proper care, and they were followed.
ALWAYS CHECK IT OUT BEFORE WRITING THE CHECK. FIND OUT IF IT'S LEGIT... THAT'S THE LESSON.
When enough people refused to volunteer (i.e. be used and scammed) anymore, this guy suddenly found himself with a house full of birds that no one wanted, no money coming in, and no one but himself to care for them, or pay for food and care. At that point he shut down "the scam" and was forced to surrender "his" birds to a legitimate rescue.. Cuz he sure as hell wasn't gonna pay for anything. IT WAS ALWAYS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. (And at the good rescues, it's all about the welfare of the birds.)
Many other "rescues" out there are nothing more than Hoarders. These are mentally ill people who are taking in anything and everything because they love animals and are deluded into believing that this is their calling in life, but in reality, they have NO resources coming in to actually care for these animals. The animals in that situation go from the frying pan, into the fire... ending up suffering, or dead, or needing to be rescued from the rescue. Visit even one of these places and you'll know! THE STENCH IS UNGODLY!!!
And then there are the FLIPPERS... there is no rescue, they post the bird the next day on Craig's list or take them to the flea market, or second hand bird shops, or what have you, and sell them for a profit. Get as much as you can for free, and see what you can get for it. The welfare of the animal is NOT a real concern, or even, a concern at all. $$$. If these guys are scammers or flippers. Your bird will be taking a trip to "the mill."
IT DOES HAPPEN!!! Lesson there is check it out thoroughly before surrendering your bird!!!
ONCE YOU SIGN YOUR BIRD AWAY, HE'S NO LONGER YOURS. YOU CAN'T GET HIM BACK!!! EVEN IF THEY LIED TO YOU TO GET HIM.
Things happen. Hormonal parrots run amuck. Children come into the world and get attacked. Situations sometimes change from healthy to unhealthy. People die, and no one is able to care for the bird. There are many legitimate reasons where it may be where it is best for both the bird and the people to rehome... and that happens from time to time, especially with toos.
WHEN it happens, THINK BEFORE YOU PLACE...
DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE. DON'T GIVE YOUR BIRD TO A FLIPPER OR A HOARDER.
