Bird adoptions? Not common?

[Mayden]

Not at all 'blaming' breeders. Not saying people should feel guilty either. I'm just saying that you wont get baby birds without breeders, so to blame baby bird suppliers (as only pet stores) is unfair. I said more than once that there are good breeders (some that I know) that do everything they can for their birds, keep in touch with the new owners, take them back if there are issues. But looking at the grand scheme of things you cant deny that breeders are putting babies into a system, which means others are losing out.

I'm well aware how it works in the USA, as that is exactly the same as the UK but with different stores being the 'face' instead. (DRU instead of PetCo) Just because I'm not American doesn't make me completely ignorant of how things work in the USA.

I find it unfair you calling me a troll however as I started in this thread supporting all methods of acquiring a parrot. Trying to emphasise that its not only adoption or rescue birds that need good homes. Baby and store bought too. & not wanting to get into the topic of breeding but az it was brought up and used against something, but skimmed fight over the fact that breeders are... breeding then I felt it was important to dive in to that.

I agree that education is so important which is why I remained at my pet store for so long - because so many people came through and just wanted to impulse buy without knowing what comes with ownership.

My argument against breeders is simply that by breeding more birds that arnt necessary, you're making another lose out on a home (pet store or privately bought). But as I said in my first/second post I don't care where birds come from, just that they get a good home. If breeders are making sure their birds get good homes, I honestly couldn't care less what they're up to. Merlin is a privately bred store bought bird. I visited the aviaries and home of the woman and knew the store well. Like I said, not against people buying babies at all. I also encourage new breeders on this forum to talk about their activities, I'm not here to attack anyone but my point right now is purely this:

In the grand scheme of things, why further populate what's already over populated?

 

[JerseyWendy]

In the grand scheme of things, why further populate what's already over populated?

I agree....relating to the human race. :54:

 

[Mayden]

In the grand scheme of things, why further populate what's already over populated?

I agree....relating to the human race. :54:

Don't get me started on 'benefit breeders'

 

[Pugtato]

I would buy from a breeder before I looked into adoption simply due to the ease of the process. I am unwilling to jump through ridiculous hoops simply for the pleasure of welcoming an unwanted animal into my home. This sounds incredibly harsh, but in my area of the country I feel that in many situations rescue organizations overstep their bounds in the name of animal welfare. I understand the need to screen potential adopters, however, I am repulsed by the attitudes of many in the "rescue business." I would prefer to look a breeder in the eye, learn from them, and have a new parrot friend, knowing that they are running a business and I am purchasing a (well loved) product. The alternative is that I go through a rescue, spend weeks if not months jumping through hoops, before finally being told that I am "just good enough" to adopt one of their critters...oh, and I get to pay an exorbitant "adoption fee" on top of it all.

There are good rescues, there are good people in rescue, I simply don't enjoy the process of finding them.

 

[Pinkbirdy]

Sometimes I think rescues are borderline hoarders. Their adoption requirements are so strict that many good homes are rejected. From what I have seen throughout Boysmom's adoption process, the rescue keeps changing the rules from one week to the next. I wish she would post up her story.

They burnt me out with [what they wanted] .I just gave up . My birds off Craigslist have ALL been [bad situations ] . That might be the true rescue. At least at a shelter you know their fed ,safe and with other birds . I love good Breeders that are passionate about their birds [They know their stuff] . My Macaw almost died last year . Out of desperation I contacted some breeders. Well apparently they knew their stuff . As my vet was telling me to [put her down,she was that bad] . With the breeders knowledge and direction my bird is alive and great today.

 

[Abigal7]

The nearest parrot rescue is 2 hours away and I am too far for them to consider inspecting me. That said I have decided to never to buy from a pet store. As a child my first two birds (when I was a child) was a budgie from Walmart and a cockatiel from a ma and pap pet store. The cockatiel from a ma and pa pet store was the better bird. I think it is fine to rescue but for a lot of people especially for a first parrot should not get a pitiful parrot or a parrot with a history of abuse or aggression because they feel sorry for it. Those birds are for people that already know what they are doing. Yes, I got Captain Jack from a breeder (who I can talk to if I have questions). I spend time with Captain Jack everyday and will not get him out if he is calling to me. Sure he is still a baby but I do not expect him to have a big flip in personality as an adult. I got Clover from craigslist and she needed a lot of work (luckily she was on a healthy diet and knew how to step up when I got her). My mom told me a story of some people that adopted a U2 from a rescue and how they ended up taking the bird back after it tore the woman's lip (and caused her to need stitches). To be honest some people even had trouble with dogs they took home from the shelter. Sometimes the dog even became a liability. No one should ever get a parrot unless they will spend time with it and spend the money to properly care for it. Would, I pick a older bird that liked me? Yes, I would. Now I am sure there are parrot rescues that would steer people to the parrot they feel would be best for them. I have no problem adopting all I am just trying to say not everything is black and white.

 

[Merlee]

I am unwilling to jump through ridiculous hoops simply for the pleasure of welcoming an unwanted animal into my home. This sounds incredibly harsh, but in my area of the country I feel that in many situations rescue organizations overstep their bounds in the name of animal welfare. I understand the need to screen potential adopters, however, I am repulsed by the attitudes of many in the "rescue business." I would prefer to look a breeder in the eye, learn from them, and have a new parrot friend, knowing that they are running a business and I am purchasing a (well loved) product. The alternative is that I go through a rescue, spend weeks if not months jumping through hoops, before finally being told that I am "just good enough" to adopt one of their critters...oh, and I get to pay an exorbitant "adoption fee" on top of it all.

There are good rescues, there are good people in rescue, I simply don't enjoy the process of finding them.

Yep, know that feeling and I feel rescues should have guidelines and not rules that are strictly black and white.

 

[Pajarita]

Before you bash rescues and their guidelines, you should spend some time in them volunteering and experiencing what they experience day in and day out. I did full time rescue and had to stop. It's absolutely HEARTBREAKING! It destroys all faith you could have possibly had in humanity. And that's why they have the strict guidelines: because they know firsthand how cruel and deceitful people can be.

 

[triordan]

Both of my birds are rescued or rehomed. My gw was 13 when I got him and my cag is 8

 

[Merlee]

Before you bash rescues and their guidelines, you should spend some time in them volunteering and experiencing what they experience day in and day out. I did full time rescue and had to stop. It's absolutely HEARTBREAKING! It destroys all faith you could have possibly had in humanity. And that's why they have the strict guidelines: because they know firsthand how cruel and deceitful people can be.

I understand what they go through and why the rules are in place. I had children who worked in animal shelters while growing up. I agree it is heartbreaking.

The rescue I have recently been involved has left a bad taste in my mouth. A member here went through the adoption process and lived about an hour away. The director said she lived too far, even though the website said they will consider applications within a 2-hour radius. The director also said their goal was not finding homes for the birds in her care, yet she holds open house for people to come and adopt. My friend was also told smoking was not an issue, yet it turns out it was. The director nor the adoption committee would return e-mails unless you were persistent and resent them. After attending an open house and sending multiple e-mails expressing interest in adopting, I was lied to regarding the temperament of a particular bird I was interested in. I am still waiting on responses to a couple of emails. The director acknowledged to a fellow member that she saw my e-mail, but since I didn't put an application in, it was pushed aside. If my e-mails are not important, why would I continue to do business with the rescue? I am extremely upset with the way this rescue is run and the birds are the ones who lose.

 

[Pajarita]

I agree that not all rescues are good. I will further agree that some of them are nothing more than hoarders (and this is not hearsay, I have personal knowledge of this) or collectors (I had a rescue contacting me because somebody told them I have a bird of a particular species and they wanted to add one to 'their collection' and they admitted that they had contacted me because they knew I don't charge a penny for birds I rehome while they had no problem charging a hefty fee for the ones they had) or a useless idiot on a power trip (I have personal knowledge of this, too) but not all are the same. I know some that do excellent work and devote their entire lives to it. There are bad people in all walks of life, even in professions that one would think only 'good' people would do (doctors, teachers, priests, etc) but it's not fair to paint everybody with the same brush and to give up on a practice that should be more common than it is, namely, adopting instead of buying.

I hope the Roaming Parrot Project will take care of this...

 

[Merlee]

Thank you for understanding my point of view. This rescue has 36 birds that are adoptable per the website, plus more that are not pictured but mentioned on the website. What blows me away is that with the ownership of a bird, a minimum amount of hours is recommended to spend daily one-on-one. It is also mentioned on the website that the rescue's director has 6 birds of her own living there. I think the total of birds living at the rescue is around 50. I sure would like to know how it's ok for her to spread herself so thin, but an adopter is questioned how long a bird will be spent alone during the day. It is impossible for one person to spend the recommended amount of time for each bird which is 2-3 hours. There are not enough hours in a day.

 

[Pajarita]

Not quite true. It depends on the environment you provide and whether the birds have other companions. I have a large amount of birds but most of them live cage-free in a room fitted for their needs and with, at least, one companion of their own species so they don't require more than two hours of my company which is usually given while I clean and feed. One day a week I spend more time in there because I do the thorough weekly cleaning but, normally, it's about 1.5 to 2 hours in the morning and only 15 to 30 minutes in the evening (this is when they get their protein food so they couldn't care less about me been there or not -LOL).

I keep one pet bird, sometimes two (while I am quarantining a new one or is of a different species for which I don't have any other) and I never spend less than three to four hours a day with each of them. Is it hard? YOU BET! But it's the bare minimum considering they are made to have company 24/7/365!

I don't know the conditions and routines the rescue you mention keeps but 50 birds is not that many if kept right. I personally know of two very good rescues that have hundreds of them and they don't only have volunteers who come every day to help out with cleaning, feeding, socializing, etc (I even know one that has a paid employee because the lady could not count on volunteers showing up every day) and the birds are let out all day long and rotated into flight rooms or aviaries and socialized with other birds either of their own species or very similar. The system works out very well. Much better than having a single or a couple of birds in cages all day long and letting them out at night for an hour or two when the owner comes home from work...

 

[sherlockwatson]

I've actually been think about adopting a B&G macaw from Extra Large Birds For Adoption - Florida Parrot Rescue (if you scroll to the very bottom of the cage, you'll see her, Kiki). Their adoption process is VERY through. I'm actually scared that I won't get her (as I've never owned a macaw before)! They are very specific in who gets their birds.

 

[Merlee]

Prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster ride and jumping through hoops. Look at the questionnaire and see if any of those things could be viewed as negative and used against you. I sincerely hope your application is approved. Personally, it's easier to get a bird off CL than to get a bird from rescue. You don't have to worry about future inspections, updates or the possibility of having the bird taken away from you for whatever reason the rescue comes up with.

 

[SandyBee]

Merlee, wow I am do sorry and upset that the rescue where you are at is so difficult to work with.
It looks like there are a lot of questionable organizations. I guess I was truly blessed that the one where we adopted is so good and full of common sense. I wish that they could all be modelled after it.

 

[mangoandtzippy]

One of mine is a rehome (I rescued him myself) and one is breeder bought. I would consider getting a rescue in the future if I get a bigger parrot. There don't seem to be many UK rescues that actually rehome birds though (or maybe I have missed them in my searches). Some 'rescue' them and then keep them in a kind of sanctuary or something like that.

 

[Merlee]

I am extremely upset with what Boysmom had to endure. It makes me think of hoarding because the rescue's adoption committee doesn't seem to think that applicants are not as good as the rescue because so many adoptable birds have been there for over 3 years. There are 83 birds in that place and the noise level is unbelievable. One could go deaf from being there too long. From what I understand two adults live there. How can one primary caretaker give each bird the attention it needs daily? No wonder the majority of the birds are screamers and pluckers.

 

[henpecked]

There are rescues that rehome and there are rescues that are sanctuarys. Sanctuary birds can not be bought,traded,given away or bred. Their forever home is now that "sanctuary". I have birds like that, they'll always be just part of the flock. It's sometimes easy to confuse the two different "rescues" both need funds and rely on donations.

 

[Abigal7]

Sherlockwatson, I wish you all the luck. The adoption fees seem reasonable (I have no idea what they consider a proper cage though). If I lived in Florida I would consider adopting a bird from them.