Zoonosis or scammer?

[Sizer]

Now for the downside, long story so bear with me! The parrot was advertised for £500, we haggled over the phone as you do and got the price down to £350 as it was a 3.5hr round trip.

When we were 10 minutes away the woman text saying she now wanted £400 as she had been offered that. We ignored the text as we just pulled up outside pretty much anyway.

When we went in, she then said (assuming we hadn't read the text I guess) she wanted £450 as someone down the road had offered her that. We basically said no, we agreed a price and she let us take him home.

The impression we got was that she was trying to scam us out of more money as we had driven so far. Anyhow, we got a text an hour ago from her (bearing in mind she said he was healthy and never mentioned a vet when we asked) saying her vet had called.

She claims she took it in for a check-up a week ago and that the vet had called her and told her that they found blood in the parrots poo. She told us we had to take the bird back straight away. We have asked for the vets details so we could call and speak to them to confirm what she was saying as it sounded a little more like she wanted it back as she had been offered more money.

She said the vet said it may have, well first it was a parrot disease then later on said a zoonosis disease. She still hasnt given over the vets contact details and seems to be avoiding doing so.

Me and the wife think she is full of it, but have no idea what diseases amazons get, what symptons etc to look for. Dizzy is looking healthy, no discharge, bright eyes, no visible blood in poo.

So is there anything obvious we need to look out for?..is she full of it and trying to get the bird back to sell for more money?? Any advice appreciated but I'm not letting her have the bird back as I dont think it was being looked after well enough at all anyway.

 

[Sizer]

If, big if, she did get the bird a health check, would they actually take a sample of poo? I know for cats and dogs they just give them the once over....

 

[Molcan2]

Go with your gut feeling on this one. If you didn't feel that she took very good care of the bird and you are not going to take it back to her (which I wouldn't give the bird back either) then I would simply tell her that you thank her for her concern but 'I' am now the current owner and the bird will now be under the care of 'my' veterinarian and any problems that the bird may have we will treat accordingly. If she was honest she would have given you the vet information, why would she have any reason to withhold her vet records. Its not like she called you crying and said she made the biggest mistake of her life and she misses her best friend, she is saying he has an illness (which can be dealt with and treated by any veterinarian that you choose to go to, she doesn't have to be further involved with the birds care at this point). I would tell her that if she felt that bad about selling a bird with an illness then she could send me a check in the mail further discounting the price since the bird is 'sick.' She probably wont take that well. At this point I would probably terminate contact with her. The bird has been paid for, it is now at home with you. It is now your responsibility not hers. She probably got a call and was offered the full amount that she was asking. It makes me so angry when people see these guys as dollar signs. Congrats though on your new family member . Cant wait to see pics.

 

[Molcan2]

My vet only sampled the stool on our first initial visit, after that he only would take a sample if she were having loose or discolored stool. If the bird went in and showed signs of a problem then I wouldn't be surprised that they took a stool sample. Her not giving you her vets number so that you can call is more than likely because the bird never went to the vet. I would just make an appointment with your vet and have a full work up done (blood work, stool sample), which should be done with any new bird that is brought home anyway.

 

[Sizer]

Thanks for your comments, pics in the "hi all" thread, for an hour he has been sat on the new cage all fluffed up on one foot and dozing...lol. (pics of tiny old cage there too...horrible previous owner)

 

[Molcan2]

Hes cute! I cant believe the size cage he was in! Its smaller than Rome's travel cage. Poor guy, no wonder he doing that behavior - he had nothing else to do! Hes sooo lucky to have found you guys.

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

Personally, I recommend returning the bird and being done with the drama. Additionally, have the other person drive to you to pick up the bird.

 

[oled]

The perrot is yours now. I also think that someone has ofered more money. Congratulations and goog luck!!

 

[Sizer]

Thank you, he is booked in for a health check on Wednesday anyway just to make sure he's fine. Not having the sexing done yet though I didn't realise it would be £57!

 

[Mozzie]

The parrot is now yours and I wouldn't give it back to horrible owners. I would also just take it for a full check up at my vet's to make sure everything is ok with him. I'll bet they are just trying to scam more money!

 

[Spiritbird]

It only takes a minute for a vet to look under a microscope to see if the droppings are normal or abnormal. Not a week later.

 

[Sizer]

Well my mrs is a nightmare....she wants to tell her to come pick dizzy up, then when she knows she is 15minutes away text her and say we changed our mind...lol.

Wife is a tad feisty when it comes to people trying to take advantage etc...

 

[jaimmorr]

Well my mrs is a nightmare....she wants to tell her to come pick dizzy up, then when she knows she is 15minutes away text her and say we changed our mind...lol.

Wife is a tad feisty when it comes to people trying to take advantage etc...

LOL! That is SO something I would do!!!

 

[Safira]

LOL

Just make sure you give her the wrong address

 

[oled]

Thank you, he is booked in for a health check on Wednesday anyway just to make sure he's fine. Not having the sexing done yet though I didn't realise it would be £57!

Happy to read, you are the perfect perrot owner

 

[osnyder]

Seems to be a scammer or an unfeeling piece-of-you-know-what, or both. I say both, and wouldn't give him back. You are clearly the better home by a long shot. And he's so beautiful! What eyes!

 

[Sizer]

I feel honoured....he just let me stroke his front for a couple of minutes....lol

 

[antoinette]

What a wicked woman, just read between the lines and you can see right through her.
It's a disgrace to the human race, only thinking of the $$ and not the well being of the bird.
Forget about her, have the bird visit a vet, have various tests done, and take it from there.
So happy you are caring for the bird, he must think he is in heaven

 

[PetoftheDay]

Definitely sounds like a scammer, I'd just not answer her calls or texts any more and be done with her. Once you get the check from the vet, everything should be all clear, and do keep receipts from the vet, etc., just in case there's any question in the future. If he's microchipped (have the vet check) or banded, make sure you contact the company and change the bird's owner info to your own.

 

[Sizer]

OK, small update, I actually contacted the woman to see if the blue was still for sale to see if she was a scammer. Well I just got a call from her saying the blue had sold but she has a 6 month old orange for sale for £450.

The story was she bought it to keep the blue company but couldnt look after it because of work commitments. Well we were told the blue had to go as her dad had cancer!

Please, please spread the word that this woman is a scam artist and seems to be buying and selling for profit. Her details are :

Phone : 07725 213715
PC : W3 7DL, Acton

No doubt this one will be sold in a budgie cage as well. When we picked up the blue there was no other birds there.....I cant believe people behave like this and get away with it. We will be reporting her to the RSPCA tomorrow, hopefully they will do something to stop this sort of thing, its not fair on the birds....rant over.