Okay, this might seem a bit aggressive, for that I apologise. This isn't aimed at anyone in particular, just the stance that 'adoption is the
only way to go'.
Preloved | parrot birds for sale UK and Ireland
Plenty of birds around, not all are suitable, not all are affordable, not all are within a distance we can travel. etc.
I think I already mentioned the trouble with most rescues here in the UK. Most are either sanctuaries (that will not let a bird leave, after they've arrived) and other rescues all seem to have a contract saying that bird is forever theirs and not yours.
I say I'm "adopt, don't shop" but if you look at how I've acquired my pets, only one has been an actual adoption, the rest are store bought. If you've got the chance to adopt, I'm all for it, but I'm by no means against people using stores either. I'm more against people breeding, but hey, I know breeders too. I don't think they're bad people either.
It didn't mean I didn't LOOK for one that needed a home via a rescue, or a rehome. But most places would like you to meet the bird prior to bringing them home, which is not something I could do in each case I was interested in. Also if we didn't click with the bird (prior to meeting) then we're stumped. I'd rather meet the animal, see if we get on, think about it, then bring him home. Which is the case with all mine - except we happened to meet in a store and not a rescue! I don't see why I should deny a bird a wonderful home, with love and care, just because he's store bought.
If you find the right bird, be it shop, adopt, rescue, rehome, whatever. I wouldn't deny it a home purely because I didn't get it for free/cheap from 'the right owners'. But if I think a bird needed to get out of that situation, because I found it abysmal and knew he was going to go somewhere less than suitable, should I turn it down just because it's a store bought birdy?
No. Because I can't save take on every beautiful and wonderful bird (and that applies to most birds I meet!), but I can make a difference to THAT bird, I'm making a difference (a positive one) to his life. Just because he's being sold in a store, why does that make him any less important, or special, any less deserving of a good home with me?
Free, £100, £1k, £1000k. Irrelevent. That birds happiness is what matters to me at the end of the day and if I've found a bird that I've bonded with, 'current scenario' is not going to make a blind bit of difference to me getting it and improving it's life.
If I had seen Charlie through an ad on preloved/gumtree, etc (similar to CL here, as CL isn't widely used.) and then met him, I would have brought him home, because we clicked. But because he's a pet store bird, people will look down on my 'purchase'.
Sorry, not sorry. I've given all my guys a lovely home, with prompt vet care, good food, good housing, plenty of toys, plenty of interaction and lots of love. You tell me my baby boy Merlin doesn't deserve the home I've given him. You tell me my cuddly Charlie didn't deserve a second chance at being a pet, rather than a breeding bird in an aviary. Or that Bruce with his health problems, should have gone to another person who regards budgie's as little more than an ornament in the house.
Just because they're pet shop bought, does not make their lives any less important.
"Adopt, don't shop" is great and I really am all for it because there are so many animals that are in need of good homes, but they're not just in rescues.
Whatever you choose to do, just improve their lives. They're your responsibility now,
no matter how you acquire the bird, you have to love it, provide for it, treat it as the most precious thing you own, deal with the ups and downs of parrontship and be grateful for every day you get with your bird. Baby or senior, love them unconditionally.
