Petco, PETA agree to truce over large birds

You're sure doing your best to put forward a worst case scenario for avian ownership, aren't you.

Not avian ownership in general. Just the mass breeding and selling of large parrots.

Most people are too lazy to educate themselves about what is really required to keep these wild animals in captivity before they buy one. When most realize what they've gotten themselves into, either mistreat or neglect the animal for acting exactly like nature intended or they dump the bird off onto some other poor unsuspecting soul or at the local shelter who then has no choice but to send the bird along to a parrot rescue which is properly equipped to care for them.

The rescues are already overflowing with surrendered birds and there is no good reason to keep mass breeding and selling of thousands of new baby parrots every year.

I believe you are correct. Sorry about that!

Just as an aside, look for a bird club in your area and attend once. You'll meet a lot of very interesting people of all types who, just like dog or cat owners, think their birds are a big part of their family. It's a lot of fun to see what all different types of birds do, and how they interact with strangers as well as birds who do not belong to "their flock".

Also, a funny from the bird's point of view:

It's A Bird's Life

by Jodi Lynn Giannini

In the beginning, there was The Bird. And The Bird was in darkness, for the Cage was covered, and there was naught to see. And The Bird was displeased about this situation, and therefore demanded that the Cage be uncovered, and that there should be light.

And The Bird sayeth "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAWKKKKKKKK!"

And, lo, this cry did shatter the morning silence, and the Ears of The Owner were rent asunder, and the sleep of The Owner did dissipate. And it came to pass, that The Cage was uncovered by The Owner, and thus light did flood in, and The Bird saw that all was Good.

Well, almost...

For in the light of the Uncovered Cage, The Bird beheld that the Food Dish was forsaken of food...there was naught within.

And boy, The Bird was wroth with perturbment, and thus sayeth the bird,

"Oh, mere mortal Owner, is thou so stupid as to forget my morning repast, as is my right to demand of you?"

But the Owner knew not the divine language, and it only sounded like "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAWKKKKKKKK!" to her (mostly because her ears had been rent asunder earlier).

And as it was the will of The Bird, the food and the water dishes were taken away, and ritually washed and dried. The divine repast of Pesticide-Free Organic Produce, Dried Fruit, Berries, Nuts and Expensive Pellets was duly prepared, and thus presented before The Bird.

And the Bird looked upon the great feast with one round, dark eye, and decided to become mortally afraid of Carrots, even though The Bird had eaten Carrots since time unending. And thus, were the Carrots flung down from the Cage, to roll under the sofa, to go unnoticed by The Owner and decay there.

This action much pleased The Bird, and henceforth, The Bird took great joy in flinging all manner of objects out of The Cage and onto the floor. The Bird saw that this was good and proclaimed, "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAWKKKKKKKK!"

So that The Owner and All The World would know (well maybe not the WHOLE world, but everyone on the next three blocks sure knew about it!)

And The Bird knew by Divine Avian Logic that if he did not care for the prepared morning repast, he was entitled to feast upon books, heirloom furniture and Small Children (not necessarily in that order). But today, having flung away all the Carrots, the bird deemed the repast edible, and lo, did make a gourmand of itself, and ate the whole thing, and was done.

But with the morning repast finished, and nothing left to fling, The Bird soon became bored. It was time to go Beyond The Cage, as this was also the divine right of the bird, to wander the living area of The Owner, and poop upon all he observed - floor, furniture, man, woman, or child. For The Bird possessed The Owner, and by all Avian Logic, The Bird did possess anything that The Owner possessed, even if The Owner had A Big Mac, and was eating it, The Bird was in all rights able to take the Big Mac from the owner, and of course, fling it down onto the floor, and even better, poop upon it.

And so sayeth the bird "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAWKKKKKKKK!" and hence, the owner came running, and made the door of The Cage to be open. And The Owner said unto The Bird, "UP!" and The Bird did, in all it's sublime glory, step upon The Hand of The Owner. And the bird was much pleased, and did happily make a noise of contentment, and all was good, and quiet and peaceful (for the next three seconds).

But, as The Bird sat upon The Hand of The Owner, The Bird beheld that there was, abiding in the living room, upon the sofa, the Significant Other of The Owner. And the heart of The Bird was filled with a great and dour jealously, and The Bird did henceforth vow to try to devour the Significant Other at every opportunity and would forever, see that the Significant Other suffered pain from the beak of The Bird, and poop from the Other End.

And the Bird looked upon the Significant Other, and said "BRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAWKKKKKKKK!"

in an exceeding loud voice, which caused the Significant Other to spill his soda all over. And The Bird saw that this was not only good, but pretty funny, too. And henceforth, The Bird would scream whenever The Significant Other would dare to be in the same area as The Bird (within a 10 mile radius).

And then it came to pass, that The Bird was removed from The Hand of The Owner, and the feet of The Bird came to rest upon the perch of the playpen that was solely The Bird's. And such were the delights in the eyes of The Bird. A swing, a chain, wood to chew, and many things to fling. And there came upon the land, A Miracle, and that Miracle was named Silence, and Silence ensued for the next two hours, whilst The Bird did amuse itself and play quietly.

And while this was, the owner did carefully clean The Cage and removed the poop from therein, and made the cage to be most immaculate.

As time passed, The Bird was made weary from all the difficulties involved in the job of being a Divine Creature. And so The Bird, going quietly unobserved, did clamber down from it's pen, and make to it's cage, where it took a nap.

And The Owner looked upon the playpen, and saw that The Bird did not abide within or upon, and The Owner was fraught with fear, thinking that The Bird had either devoured itself whole or that The Significant Other had indeed meted out a terrible punishment upon The Bird, and The Bird was now a Fancy-Colored Featherduster. And The Owner did set up such a great and sorrowful keening, that it caused The Bird to awake, and screech loudly for being disturbed during such an important job as a nap.

And, lo, the Owner was soothed, and The Bird returned to its nap.

And when the time for the nap had passed, and The Bird was now awake, refreshed, The Bird did cleverly let itself out of The Cage (for no implement of any mere mortal could hold it) and sought out something for to destroy.

And it came to pass that The Bird ate a $100 dollar Technics Stereo Speaker, and lo, a miracle it was that The Bird was not electrocuted into something resembling Kentucky Fried Chicken.

And the Owner was sore annoyed by The Bird's action, and cursed and decried the Bird, and The Bird was returned to The Cage, where It did sulk for an hour unmitigated.

So the rays of sunlight coming through the window, did grow long, and orange in color, and The Bird saw that it was time for the evening repast, and was given a divine meal, in the bowl.

But The Bird soon became sore displeased, when it noted that The Owner was possessed of a Golden Dragon dinner - Chinese Take-Out, and The Bird did upset the dish into the Bottom of The Cage, and thereupon did fling All out from The Cage, and scream until it was soothed with a large piece of family-style bean curd.

And then The Bird did go along with The Owner to watch X-Files, and soon became weary and demanded to go to bed.

The Bird retired to The Cage, which was covered, and The Bird saw that this Darkness was warm, and comfortable, and was Good in the eyes of The Bird (which were getting heavy, and sleepy) and The Bird did drift off to sleep.

And in the end, there a puffy, sleeping Bird, with it's head tucked under it's wing, and all was quiet until the next morning....

when everything started all over again...

Let's see some sources. Where do you get the figures you cite ?

Where do you see rescues overflowing with surrendered birds ? My bird club works very extensively with birds who need to find a new home and I can tell you, there is not a large number. The local Natural Science museum takes in some animals who need a new home - few are birds.

Where do you find a basis for the assertion that "most people" are too lazy to educate themselves ? I dispute that - if you spend several thousand dollars to buy a large bird and a cage, you spend the time to figure out how to keep it.

Let's see some sources. Where do you get the figures you cite?

Knock yourself out.

The links below came from the Avian Welfare Coalition links & resources page. If you would like to speak to someone about the problem to get more detailed information, I'd suggest calling Foster Parrots, The Gabriel Foundation or any of the others listed.

Go tell them what you wrote above. Tell them that your bird-breeding club doesn't think there's a problem with parrot overpopulation or that people who spend thousands on a bird will figure out how to keep it, then come back here and tell us what the rescues said in response.

I don't think you've got the intestinal fortitude to call anyone about this. You might do it, but I doubt it.

Captive Bird Rescue & Placement Organizations by State

Alaska

Parrot Education & Adoption Center (PEAC)

Arizona

The Oasis Sanctuary

Tucson Avian Rescue & Adoption (TARA) *

California

Coventry Companion Bird Survival Center

Mickaboo Cockatiel Rescue

Parrot Education & Adoption Center (PEAC)

Parrots First *

Colorado

Feathered Family

The Gabriel Foundation

Connecticut

LaziBirds

Florida

Feathered Friends Adoption & Rescue Program

Lucky Parrot Refuge & Sanctuary

The Shyne Foundation

Massachusetts

Foster Parrots *

Minnesota

Midwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services (MAARS) *

Nebraska

Safe Haven

New Hampshire

Fauna Rescue

New Jersey

South Jersey Bird Club

New York

Chipper Chirpers Adoption Link

New Beginnings Avian Rescue

Parrot Rescue, Inc.

Ohio

Bird Placement Program

Parrot Education & Adoption Center (PEAC)

Pennsylvania

Parrot Education & Adoption Center (PEAC)

Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue

Utah

Best Friends Animal Society *

Texas

Beaks & Wings Parrot Rescue (E-mail)

Vermont

For the Birds

Virginia

Rescue Me, An Avian Sanctuary

Washington

Mollywood

West Virginia

Raven's Haven Exotic Bird Rescue *

Wisconsin

Fine Feathered Friends Sanctuary

LaCrosse Avian Rescue, Rehab and Adoption (LARRA)

Midwest Farm Animal Rescue (poultry, waterfowl)

Canada

For the Love of Parrots [BC]

Feathered Friends Avian Rescue & Resource Association [AB]

Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary [BC]

Europe

Foundation Dutch Parrot Refuge [Veldhoven, Holland]

New Life Parrot Rescue and Helpline Service [Cambridgeshire, England] *

Safehaven Parrot Refuge [Hatfield, England]

Other Avian Rescue & Placement Lists

These web sites list a wide variety of organizations and individuals providing bird rescue, adoption, and sanctuary services.

Avian Protection Society: Avian Rescue/Sanctuary/Placement Organizations *

ParrotChronicles: Bird Rescue Groups

Avian Rescue Online: Sanctuaries & Rescues by State

Avian Rescue Network

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): National Shelter Directory

Petfinder.com

Pets911: Pet Adoption

Adopt an Animal - Canada

You can also check with local bird clubs to see if they have adoption programs:

ParrotChronicles: Bird Clubs

Bird Talk: Bird Clubs

In addition, humane societies, animal shelters, and veterinary clinics can sometimes help you find birds available for adoption in your area. You can find these resources in your Yellow Pages or via these web sites:

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): National Shelter Directory

Petfinder.com

Pets911: Pet Adoption

Adopt an Animal - Canada

Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV): Find Your Local Avian Veterinarian

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): State Veterinary Medical Association

Animal Protection & Welfare

International Animal Protection & Welfare Organizations

Animal Abuse Prevention Agency (AAPA)

Animal Protection Institute (API) *

Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR)

Avian Welfare Coalition (AWC) *

The Brigitte Bardot Foundation

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF)

Feminists for Animal Rights

Friends of Animals (FoA)

In Defense of Animals (IDA)

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR)

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) *

United Animal Nations (UAN)

World Society for the Protection of Animal (WSPA)

USA Animal Protection & Welfare Organizations

American Humane Association (AHA)

American Sanctuary Association (ASA) *

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

Animals Deserve Absolute Protection Today and Tomorrow (ADAPTT)

Animal Emancipation (AE) — USA/CA

Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF)

Animal Protection Institute (API) *

Animal Rights Coalition (ARC) — USA/MN

Animal Rights Resource Site: Organizations

Animals Elect America

The Ark Trust

Avian Protection Society *

Best Friends Animal Society — USA/UT *

For Those Without Voices

The Fund for Animals *

Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

Illinois Animal Action (IAA)

Last Chance for Animals (LCA) *

Law Student Animal Rights Alliance (LSARA)

Legislative Efforts for Animal Protection (LEAP) — USA/MN

Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PSYETA)

The Association of Sanctuaries (TAOS) *

The Shyne Foundation

United Poultry Concerns

National Animal Control Association

Non-USA Animal Protection & Welfare Organizations

Animal Aid — UK

Animal Alliance of Canada

Animal Rights Resource Site: Organizations

Animals Australia

Animal Voice of South Africa

BirdsFirst — UK *

Captive Animals' Protection Society (CAPS) — UK

Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS)

Compassion Incorporating Animal Voice — South Africa

Johannesburg SPCA — South Africa

National Council of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) — South Africa

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)

Wildlife Action Group (WAG) — South Africa

Animal Protection & Welfare E-Mailing Lists & Web Rings

Yahoo! Groups: Animal Rights Groups

Yahoo! WebRing: Animal Rights Web Rings

Other Animal Protection & Welfare Resources

About.com: Animal Rights

AnimalConcerns.org

Animal Law Journal

Animals' Hope Petition Team

Animal Rights Online

Animal Rights Resource Site

Rutgers University School of Law: Animal Rights Law Project

StudyWeb: Animals & Pets: Animal Welfare

Virunga: Interacting for Animals

World Animal Net

Just quit the gratuitous insults. You know nothing about me and you prove your ignorance by junk of this type.

Since you cannot discuss without insults, there's no point in follow-up with you.

Just quit the gratuitous insults. You know nothing about me and you prove your ignorance by junk of this type.

I didn't insult you. I simply wrote that I didn't think you'd answer my challenge to call a parrot rescue and tell them what you wrote here.

That's okay, you are in good company, none of us are perfect. Have a blessed day! :)

Those links aren't even all rescues. Some don't even work.

I'll agree with you that people should be educated in advance about parrots -- or any animal -- before they buy them. However, I disagree that the chain pet stores do not properly educate their customers. I personally received a rather long lecture from the sales clerk in charge of birds before they let me take a parakeet home. They even held the bird upside down and showed me the tail vent, saying this is where they poop, if the stool gets runny and if the tail vent becomes discolored, it could mean the bird is sick. They counseled me on proper diet and gave me papers of instruction.

Perhaps the type of instruction you want from the pet stores is something like this: "You may have trouble with this bird (dog, cat) later on. Here's everything that could possibly go wrong." The animal organizations you support are trying to limit the public's right to purchase animals because they feel we are inherently incompetent, therefore they desire to limit our access to the marketplace with legislation and lawsuits.

all was quiet until the next morning...when everything started all over again.

Good one! Yes, our avian companions allow us to live in their house.

I'll agree with you that people should be educated in advance about parrots -- or any animal -- before they buy them. However, I disagree that the chain pet stores do not properly educate their customers. I personally received a rather long lecture from the sales clerk in charge of birds before they let me take a parakeet home.

That's point. You did not educate yourself about what is required to own a bird like this before you walked into the store.

It sounds like he was an impulse-buy. Had you planned to buy a budgie when you walked into the pet store? Or, like most people, did you go there to buy some pet supplies and decided to buy a bird on a whim?

It is good that the store from which you purchased your budgie took the time to tell you a little bit about his care and feeding.

Did they also tell you that there are thousands of budgies just like him, who are in desperate need of adoption?

Did they suggest that instead of buying a baby bird, you should first contact the local rescue to look into adoption as they now do with dogs and cats?

Or, did they work to sell you a bird from their stock? (Along with a cage, perches, bird seed, toys, etc.)

Perhaps the type of instruction you want from the pet stores is something like this: "You may have trouble with this bird (dog, cat) later on. Here's everything that could possibly go wrong." The animal organizations you support are trying to limit the public's right to purchase animals because they feel we are inherently incompetent, therefore they desire to limit our access to the marketplace with legislation and lawsuits.

If Petco or Petsmart told people the truth about what's required to keep a large parrot in captivity, they'd never sell any birds.

Without knowing which animal organizations you're talking about it's impossible for me to address what you write. I will say that I support organizations that seek to limit or eliminate altogether the mass breeding and sales of large parrots like amazons, greys, macaws and cockatoos. These birds are wild animals and do not belong in most people's homes because most people do not have the education or inclination to provide for the bird's needs.