The Throw Away Parrot

[Jag]

Wow.. that was heartbreaking, although the ending turned out well. A little too close to home, though... as Rico came from the same petstore as Rayne, but he was bought and then returned....too loud, takes too much time, he bites everyone in the store.... he's been the sweetest Sun you could ask for!!
Then my 'rowdy boys', one from a petstore the other a 'rescue' who were moved, probably not given the appropriate attention and developed unwanted behaviors as a result, and were gotten rid of. At this point I think they even 'want' to be a part of things, but still don't know how and don't feel secure enough yet. Hopefully that will change.

Thanks for posting this... if only every petstore that carried birds would post this...hopefully to give people pause, before they create a throw away parrot.

[Andie]

The shop should have taught the first people better how to be bird people! They just didnt know. Perhaps it was too late because Goobie was scared of her by then. We always tell people that birds test and feel and taste with their beaks and that the worst thing you can do is to yell at them.

We did have one bird come back one time because the lady was moving overseas and she didn't trust the RSPCA to find it a great home.

[WhiteRaven]

That was so sad but I'm glad it had a happy ending. It's even sadder because I do work in a pet shop and sort of see the birds it talks about (although we keep them in aviaries at least). This is why I do everything I can to educate the customers interested in birds.

[mrsuper]

Wow i felt so bad for him when he got to the pet shop

I just wanted to tell to lady he was just trying to get on her finger and hit her over the head :(

And they kids, why have a bird if there going to do that with it

But in the end it all turned out great :) thanks for sharing

This makes me want to get another budgie, so mine isn't lonely but mum wont let it mabye i can perswade dad :'(

[Alan]

Thanks for posting that story Michelle. It reminds me of the story of my Sydni. She is a 11 year old umbie. For the first 6 years of her life she was kept in a room covered all but a few hours out of the day in a too small cage, when she was rehomed to the next person she was still kept in a small cage covered for 23.5 hours and kept on walmart wild bird seed with no toys. I found out about her in April. I had never planned on an umbie in my townhome. But I couldn't let her stay in that situation. I was told that Sydni didnt like men. So I went into this with caution. Nothing worse than a large too that attacks. I went to the ladies house to get Syndi, thinking she will either stay with me or go to a friend in texas that is soft hearted like me with Too's. Well when I got there Sydni stepped up. The lady told me that I am the only one that Sydni has never bitten. So off we go to her new home. It has been a few short months and Sydni and I are the best of friends. she is learning to play with toys and loves to eat. If she hates men then I just dont see it. I often comment to a friend of mine that she should be mean and attack cause of how she was treated for so long. To this day she has never been covered in my home. I tried to move her in with the other babies and that was a no go so she is back out in her little spot. She likes it there and is happy. When I come home I get her out of the cage and she will either say "I Love You" or "Am I a pretty bird" I always tell her that she is a pretty bird even tho she has feather issues. But to me is is just beautiful. She does the flock calls when she wants me or the others start. I am so happy that she has found me and that she seems happy with us :)

[Jag]

Originally Posted by WhiteRaven

That was so sad but I'm glad it had a happy ending. It's even sadder because I do work in a pet shop and sort of see the birds it talks about (although we keep them in aviaries at least). This is why I do everything I can to educate the customers interested in birds.

I'm glad you do education!! There was one girl who knew a little at the petstore...but she really did seem to love them. A few handled Rico and thought he was beautiful, but more than that seemed afraid. We took the fids back for toys last week, and they had a new baby sun. There was this great big guy holding the baby while he was refilling food bowls. He said he needed to hold him, because he was afraid of birds, LOL. They were both incredibly well adjusted, considering! I wish the boys would have been so lucky...