No Fee's for adoptive or rehomed birds

[mtdoramike]

I would like to suggest that in order to post a listing in Adoption & Rehoming forums that there would be no fee's charged for the animal period. This includes Bird, cages & escentials. This would eliminate bird flippers all together and folks just trying to recoop their investment. It should be the object of this forum to find the best possible home for the animal, not to help the seller recoop their cash or I like to reference it "CASH OUT".

It burns me to see craigslist ads that list an animal, especially a birdand the ad reads, "No Low Baller" or "No Freebies Here" or I have a ton of money invested in this bird and I'm trying to recoop some of my investment.

HELLOOOOOOOOOO, BIRDS ARE NOT INVESTMENTS AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED PIGGY BANKS! They are living breathing animals that have feelings and personalities all their own, not like that coffee table to sell at a yard sale.

OK, I'm off my soap box now and through venting.

 

[cdog]

Speak the truth! :35:

 

[Sulphiria]

That would be nice, sadly most people would prefer to go to craigslist or elsewhere to post and get money. Anyone who cares about their pets will find a good home and not charge for it. I think its better if we let anyone post here. Even if theres a fee, at least we know if someone from the forums takes the bird in, we know they are going to a good home.

 

[suebee]

sorry as soon as some1 see's free they will take the deal on!

and then sell on for money!

and as sad it is for me to say this, our love for keeping birds will continue to keep rescues and such going, simply because for what ever reason, some ppl will do things on a whim and change there minds and others decide its not for them, and as our birds live such a LONG time, we only need to look at all the horrid conditions/situtations shown on the news as evidence of this

the most fair thing to do for the birds will be to monitor/greatly reduce breeding them as pets, as every1 seems to want a baby birdy, till its hormones kick in! then its i can no longer care/handle whatever. and no-one in there right mind would take on a problem bird

my nut will never be truely happy, simply as she will NEVER be able to breed, i see and feel her fraustration every year, setting her free is not an option. no one will take her on, and those that do would probably want to breed from her adding to this horrid trade in used birds, or simply because its an interesting pet?
not that i would ever part with her, not because of the money i have invested, but because she is the 2nd child i never had.

 

[Mayden]

I asked for a rehoming fee for my cockatoo purely because it was all the money I had in the world and I spent it on getting him out of the horrid situation he was in. I didn't ask for a full amount, just something towards the full cost. By doing that I made sure that the person can afford the bird (and so can be expected to afford vet bills etc)

If I had had all the money in the world I wouldn't have done it, I would have given him up no charge because I knew he was going to a wonderful home. My budgie's were 'paid for', despite me saying no, but I was just happy to see them go to a good home.

I don't think asking for some money in return is a terrible thing if you have the right reasons behind it. Birds arn't an investment, they're a family member. I made a huge loss in regards to my rehomed Too but it was well worth it to ensure he got to a good family. People offered me more money than I'd asked for, but they didn't 'suit' Mister. It would have been convenient and a profit but I instead travelled god knows how many miles on a train to get him to where I wanted him to be.

I didn't want to give him away for free as some people will take advantage of that. I do agree with you to some extent but not in all occasions.

 

[mtdoramike]

I was more blowing off steam that anything else. But, I also believe that in order to help someone or something, you need to be in the position financially emotionally and also capable of helping. If not then they are better left where they are. I'm a firm believer in helping yourself first and then when your able help someone or something else.

If I rescued an animal to get them out of a bad situation, then I would eventually find them a good home and chaulk up the financial loss as doing a good deed. It's kind of like donating money to a charity, only donate what you can afford to. But if I found an animal that I felt was in dire need of rescue, I would first try to do it by contacting the authorities and allow them to be the judge as to whether the animal was being mistreated.

Now as far as someone being able to afford the bird, that isn't the problem. It's folks who can afford to buy the animal today with their tax refund check and 6 months from now, they want to rehome the animal because of boredom, biting, screaming or what ever. Just because someone can afford to buy a bird doesn't mean they will take care of it. I have seen animals treated far better by people who was given the animal over some who spent hundreds and thousands of dollars.

I would rather see the money that I would receive from the new owner to go to checkups for the bird or a new cage or toys.

So to me, we should be charged with finding animals good homes by encouraging thorough interviews, home inspections, back ground checks like vet references or neighbor references. You would be surprised what you can learn about an individual just by talking to their neighbors.

But if someone wants to SELL their bird then they should do it on Craigslist. I don't have an issue with Craigslist, I got Tiki from a couple who got their tax refund 6 months earlier and bought her. Then decided she was too much for them to handle. It was and still is one of the best days of my life when I BOUGHT her. It was no rehoming, I paid for her.

Agree or disagree, this is only one opinionated persons take on things.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I feel it is important to have a adoption fee, this way you know the person is willing to make the commitment. This doesn't mean you actually need to charge them though.\

 

[Spiritbird]

Charging money for your bird does not ensure the owner will care for it. You should interview this person and get references before the adoption. I placed about $500 dollars in equipment alone with Crickets new mom plus the bird for no $$$ at all. I know this person would love and care for him and she is. He is the center of her world now. The burden of choosing a new home for your bird lies with you - not your dollars.

Mike I think you should copy and paste you posting here on CL. Of course you will be flagged at some point by the very people that you are talking aboutl

 

[Mayden]

I was more blowing off steam that anything else. But, I also believe that in order to help someone or something, you need to be in the position financially emotionally and also capable of helping. If not then they are better left where they are. I'm a firm believer in helping yourself first and then when your able help someone or something else.

If I rescued an animal to get them out of a bad situation, then I would eventually find them a good home and chaulk up the financial loss as doing a good deed. It's kind of like donating money to a charity, only donate what you can afford to. But if I found an animal that I felt was in dire need of rescue, I would first try to do it by contacting the authorities and allow them to be the judge as to whether the animal was being mistreated.

Now as far as someone being able to afford the bird, that isn't the problem. It's folks who can afford to buy the animal today with their tax refund check and 6 months from now, they want to rehome the animal because of boredom, biting, screaming or what ever. Just because someone can afford to buy a bird doesn't mean they will take care of it. I have seen animals treated far better by people who was given the animal over some who spent hundreds and thousands of dollars.

I would rather see the money that I would receive from the new owner to go to checkups for the bird or a new cage or toys.

So to me, we should be charged with finding animals good homes by encouraging thorough interviews, home inspections, back ground checks like vet references or neighbor references. You would be surprised what you can learn about an individual just by talking to their neighbors.

But if someone wants to SELL their bird then they should do it on Craigslist. I don't have an issue with Craigslist, I got Tiki from a couple who got their tax refund 6 months earlier and bought her. Then decided she was too much for them to handle. It was and still is one of the best days of my life when I BOUGHT her. It was no rehoming, I paid for her.

Agree or disagree, this is only one opinionated persons take on things.

Well thats what I did. I did a home check (train journeys halfway across the country), I found out he was part of 'birdline' which is one of the largest parrot rescue/rehome charities in the UK. I got to see where he'd be keeping him, I got to hear about his macaw who had been his grandads > his dads > his. I got to see pictures of all this. He'd been out and cut down bird safe tree branches, toys all set up. He wasn't a wealthy man by any means - he was on welfare benefits due to chronic back problems.

Unfortunately, I can't just give away £500 for a good deed, I'd like to think I could and like I said, I made a loss of about £150 at least, but I honestly couldn't afford £500 'down the drain', I was a college student with no job and no income. I had no intention of keeping Mister, just to keep him happy and settled until I found him an appropriate home.

RPSCA wouldn't intervene as the bird had food, water, shelter, a toy and a perch etc. It was either I get him and rehome him, or the man who I told couldn't buy him would come back and get him for breeding and absolutely terrifying him throwing his hands all over his travel cage. No thanks.

I don't care if people think me wrong for taking money for Mister, I know what I did wasn't for me it was for him, he was terrified of everyone but truely flourished when I brought him home with me and then some more when I rehomed him. That money I got back was then spent on Merlins countless vet appointments regarding his leg, microchipping etcetcetc.

I told the man if he wasn't happy with Mister (unlikely!) that he's more than welcome to get back in touch and I'll give him the money back and take him off him. Same was said regarding vet treatment, if something cropped up that had happened before I rehomed him, I would look after those bills. Mister is still 'my' bird in the sense that if the man needed help to care for him, I will support him with that.

I don't regret it and I certainly don't think the man getting Mister did either. Mister wasn't a money making project, he was a living breathing gentle cockatoo who deserved the right home and I made sure he got it.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Charging money for your bird does not ensure the owner will care for it. You should interview this person and get references before the adoption. I placed about $500 dollars in equipment alone with Crickets new mom plus the bird for no $$$ at all. I know this person would love and care for him and she is. He is the center of her world now. The burden of choosing a new home for your bird lies with you - not your dollars.

Mike I think you should copy and paste you posting here on CL. Of course you will be flagged at some point by the very people that you are talking aboutl

I assumed anyone would interview who they gave their bird too. Although personally I would just ask my best friend to baby sit my bird for me long term, this was I could still come over and take care of her until I could take her back.

 

[IcyWolf]

I think the only problem with this would be that we may end up being known as "the forum with free birds", I wouldn't be surprised if we started seeing new members popping up left and right as soon as people realize this is the place to go for birds without rehoming fees I'd hate to see people join here just to adopt a free bird and the leave the forum only to turn around and sell the poor thing to the first person that offers the most cash

 

[MaraWentz]

I personally would charge a rehoming fee. Money does not always ensure that they will go to a good home, however, it does help a person who just jumps free. Free is easy. You show up, pretend to be sweet and ta-da! The pet or item is yours'. Money requires commitment and perhaps some saving. It means the person risks thier money to have a companion. I rehomed my chameleon for $50 with his cage and lights (easily adds up to $500-600 bucks) to ensure a good home. I had a lady meet me at Petco to pick him up and help her buy some food and vitamins. After picking it with her she walked away with Chammy! I stopped her and asked for the $50 and she looked shocked and told me that now that I know she is a going to a good home she figured she'd have her for free! I said, no there is till a rehoming fee. She sighed and shoved chammy at me and said never mind. Obviously she didnt want chammy enoguh for the $50 we agreed on. Frankly I don't want to give her to some one like that. Glad i didn't she now lives a veterinarian assistant

 

[MaraWentz]

But I am NOT saying to charge enough to cover your expenses. There is a very very slim chance of you getting your money back because it is a pet- not an investment like some one pointed out earlier. Charge enough where they have to save a bit, but not too much where you're making a huge profit. $50 is more than free or even a simple $20 that would easily be given for something so exotic, but it's less than $100. Or you could require them to get a vet visit the day they bring them home, with your accompanyment.

 

[mtdoramike]

I think the only problem with this would be that we may end up being known as "the forum with free birds", I wouldn't be surprised if we started seeing new members popping up left and right as soon as people realize this is the place to go for birds without rehoming fees I'd hate to see people join here just to adopt a free bird and the leave the forum only to turn around and sell the poor thing to the first person that offers the most cash

There are plenty of ways to prevent a person from getting a bird for free only to turn around and sell it. Like having the prospective new owner to sign an agreement with you that if for any reason that they could no longer care for the animal, they are to give you first option to get the animal back with a time limit of a couple of years along with periodic pictures to be sent upon request of your bird.

But this is just spit balling here. There's every excuse in the world to ask for monetary value for a beloved pet. just as there is for looking for a good home despite a monetary value. But that's just me. I have not nor will I ever ask money for an animal that I have to rehome for what ever reason.

 

[ShreddedOakAviary]

I suppose I'll add my 2 cents.... I breed birds, so I do sell babies for full prices. I do not advertise on Craigslist ever. (Because I'm a breeder). On the other side of my life are the birds that get dumped here with medical or behavioral problems. These birds I do not pair and make into breeders, instead we vet them, socialize them, and then wait a long wait until we run into that special person. We almost never advertise birds to be rehomed. Instead we just keep an eye out and hope for the best. We never charge any fee at all once we find that "special person". Some birds come with cages (if they came to us with a cage). And those that don't we order one at wholesale price for the new owner if needed (in that instance they pay for their new cage). Some rehomed never leave because we know that they shouldn't. Rehoming fees do irritate me... especially when I know there is something wrong with the bird, and the price is close to that of a handfed baby. So on this matter I do agree with the op with regards to rehomed birds. But then again some people may call me a hypocrite for being a breeder and doing rescue and rehab on the side.

 

[sssaucey]

Sadly most of the time owners who are asking a "rehoming fee" are usually asking close to the original cost. I know someone who wants to sell their scarlet macaw(they got her for free). Out of curiosity I asked how much, and I was told $1200. This bird is 19 years old has never been to the vet, and the people that own her smoke in the room that she is kept in. It kills me that I can't "save" her ,but I wouldn't be able to afford anything for her after.

So if anyone Close to the Ottawa Ontario region would like to help out feel free to pm me

 

[terry52449]

There are some valid points to both sides of this topic. My opinion is the adoption fees are necessary to help protect the animal from getting into an undesirable home. I think we can all agree there are to many people owning pets that should never even have kids much less that a pet. I do believe someone who can not take care of they`re pet should surrender them to an accredited shelter for them and let the adoption work from there. Passing a pet from friend to friend could be only a short term cure and this should be done with the pets best interest in mind.

 

[Mike]

I understand your desire, and appreciate your intent, but I'm afraid your idea would end up with the opposite result of what you expect.

People value what they have for a variety of reasons, and one of those reasons is the initial and the ongoing cost of what they have. I'd be concerned that a free bird's section would encourage bird flipping, not discourage it. I think that paying for a bird is a good filter which increases the odds that the buyer wants the bird for all the right reasons.

I'm a good example of how the initial cost influenced my buying decision. Knowing that I was about to pay $2k for my GW with cage I did quite a bit of advanced research to ensure I would be a good bird owner when she finally came home. I didn't want to take any chances that my poor bird skills might result in me creating a screamer/biter that I would ultimately have to get rid of for the sake of my family. My family comes first.

Yes, I know that my approach is unfair to people who cannot afford high up front costs. I myself chose not to buy a Hyacinth for that very reason. Still, I think the current world of buying and selling based on market value is good. I think it encourages the best behavior and the greatest appreciation for what the buyer buys.

 

[19jeffro83]

I recently took in a senegal for A friend who owned a pet store I frequently visited. I didn't pay anything for it but I see nothing wrong with putting out a little bit of cash for a new friend to join my family. If you look at the big picture the Purchase of the bird the cage and all the other expenses add up quickly. My guess is around 1000$ which in these times for a blue collared man isn't pocket change by any means. I'll also add that I think the reason he handed him over so quickly is because he knows of my girlfriend and my own love of all animals and knew we would enjoy him and take the best care possable.

 

[paulhanlon]

Bravo bout time someone said it