Anyone have experience with Psitti Scenes Parrot Shop?

[willahlborn]

The shop is in Albuquerque, NM... I met the owner, and like her... she says that if a bird needs to find a new home, she takes him in... never sells a bird right off the bat. The purchaser has to come in, learn about the ins/outs of having a bird, over 5-7 visits ... and let the bird choose them. She has quite a number of fids there, probably more than 30 large birds, and she also boards them. I guess I am just looking for reassurance that it's an okay place for my Severe Macaw.

[FeathersNFur8]

An OK place for what? Are you going to board your Macaw? Are you placing your Macaw on consignment to be sold? I would be getting the answers to a ton of questions. 30+ large birds is a lot of birds to care for. How many employees does this place have to give care to the birds? Are they in cages all the time? Are they out on play gyms for a portion of the day? Do they have an outside aviary for fresh air and sunshine? How is quarantine observed, when new birds come in? What kind of diet is fed?

[CALVINS MOM]

If you are thinking of boarding your bird there, I would find out if she requires a health certificate with blood work. If she does not, I would be very hesitant. Actually, I would not board my bird in any store that does not require a health certificate. You place your bird at risk to catch diseases. Does she disease test the birds she has for sale prior to bringing them into the store? Does she disease test the birds she rehomes prior to bringing them into the store? I am leary of any establishment that does not require a health certificate prior to allowing a bird to board. IMHO.

[willahlborn]

It's become impractical for us to hold on to our bird. Many of you know a Severe can be a handful, and we bought him from PetCo with little to no knowlege of what it means to be caregivers of a macaw. I assume blame for that one; it's a hard lesson to learn (that parrots are sold for the bottom line, $$$ in spite of what is best for bird/owner). We're faced with finding him a new home, and we won't choose just anyone--has to be someone who really knows birds and will care for him like he deserves.

It's tough to find places in New Mexico that have the facilities that you describe. If anyone knows of any, i'm all ears. I do not know her quarantine procedures, but she does have a large playroom where the birds play for a portion of the day. Large manzanita (sp?) tree, playstands, etc. Some of the birds are rescues, some are for sale, and some have found a permanent home at the shop.

I'm sure there are people on this board who would take him in but i'm wary of placing him somewhere that I (or Dante) can't see before hand, but that's a personal hangup of mine... I feel enough guilt as it is for buying this bird, contributing to the problem of re-homed birds in the US. I wouln't know how to deal if he went from house to house, never really finding a place to call home.

I really love the idea of the Oasis Sanctuary in AZ, but they only take in 50 or so birds per year, and they are almost all special needs birds (which Dante is not).

Sometimes I wonder if i'm being tested. Tested to see whether or not i'm patient, kind, or loving enough to do the right thing by Dante. I care for him so much but I can't truthfully say I think our house is the right place for him. It breaks my heart but I don't think he belongs here. I think he belongs somewhere that he can experience regular, frequent interaction... socialize whenever he wants... be with a variety of people (if he wants) that are "bird people".. As it is, the only interaction he gets is with me. I'm out of the house 11 hours or more per day, and we travel a couple times per year. We give him as many material possessions as we can afford (huge cage, stands, toys, fun food) but that only goes so far.

It is such a corny expression but "if you love someone, set them free.." really applies here.

[willahlborn]

I have found the New Mexico Bird Club; their adoption procedure seems like a well-thought-out and safe process:

http://www.nmbirdclub.org/adoptabird/adoptabird.html

It does, as i'm sure most of you will agree, sound like a better idea than the bird shop...

[Quito's Qage]

The NMBC certainly looks like a viable alternative. I'm so sorry things didn't work out, as are you, but i applaud you for recognizing the ineviteble and then thoughtfully and lovingly acting on it. There comes a point when the "right" and responsible thing to do is to let go and help him to find the right place. It it heartbreaking, and I hope desperately never to have to face a similar situation, but who knows what curves life is going to throw at you? You've done your best, and now you're still doing your best by seeing to it that he has the best chance for the right home. No one can ask for more than that.

[Irish]

I can think of a couple of reasons, besides those already stated, not to place your apparently much-loved bird in that store:

1) It's overcrowded by far, unless they've got a HUGE amount of room and a LOT of employees who know what they're doing. Are you sure these people aren't really hoarders at heart?

2) You're placing it in a store, and you have no way of guaranteeing that Dante won't go out the door to the first person with X amount of dollars in their hand (kind of like how he ended up with you). What the owners say they do, and what they actually do once they have your bird in hand could be two vastly different things.

3) Generally speaking, Severes are known to be one-person birds. Placing Dante with someone he hasn't chosen as his own could be a miserable experience for all involved. They don't tend to be "family birds" that enjoy interacting with everyone around them.

Whatever you do, good luck. If you think you may want to place Dante in that store, please make sure to find out what their procedures are to insure the health and safety of the birds they have there, and that you approve of it. I hope Dante finds a forever home that's perfect for everyone and everybird involved.

[Lisa B]

Bird clubs are an excellent way to help place your bird.They usually have a list of potential adopters who are looking for that specific bird. You also have a choice to interview personally. Placing him in a store, just ensures he is sold to someone, eventually.
You can also call the oasis, to see if they have other options available to help you.

[candi4me]

ohhh my gosh I think your situation is so heartbreaking. I don't know what I would do in this situation.
Candy

[Tiki]

I agree with Lisa that the bird club is a better option. People who join bird clubs usually want to learn about birds and are more motivated to take care of them too. That also goes for longtime online Birdboard members-the ones who stick around and participate in discussions.