Peoples thoughts on rescues.....

[weirdlilfaechild]

I would call most purchases simply that, a purchase, and most of the time it seems like it it not the pet store making the claim, but the person who has bought the animal. At the same time I do not consider adopting an animal from a shelter a rescue because that is an insult to the shelter, implying that the shelter kept the animals in bad conditions. I know there are horrid pet stores out there but I tend to use the term "ransom" to describe buying an animal from a horrid pet store. Yes, it saves that animal, but just puts another in it's place. Vicious, vicious cycle.

[felisdomesticus]

Originally Posted by weirdlilfaechild

At the same time I do not consider adopting an animal from a shelter a rescue because that is an insult to the shelter, implying that the shelter kept the animals in bad conditions.

If I don't drive down to the shelter and pull them, they get killed. I consider that rescuing.

[Eliza]

Originally Posted by felisdomesticus

If I don't drive down to the shelter and pull them, they get killed. I consider that rescuing.

GOOD point.

It seems to me that the words involving the pet industry are changing, and not necessarily for the better.

As an example, the term ADOPTION used to be used in a shelter/rescue situation, much like with a human child adoption. Now it's not uncommon for pet stores and breeders to use the phrase ADOPTION FEE for animals that they are clearly selling. It sounds so much nicer than PRICE TAG, don't you think?

Another example is RESCUE vs. REHOME. Some animals are surrendered to shelters, rescues or even stores and individuals before the animals suffer neglect or abuse. Other animals are, of course, taken out of dangerous and life-threateneing situation. Each animal is certainly deserving of a loving, caring, responsible home, of course. However, it seems unfair to me to call an animal that needs to be rehomed due to owner illness (for example) a rescue if the original home provided for its care until the decision to rehome was made.


-e-

[irlgirl]

thanks for your replies, I asked about this because there is someone that claims to be a (her words) die hard rescuer and talked down and put down someone who only had the birds best interest at heart. This person brought her latest bird from a pet store and as far as I know the conditions were not that bad, she wanted the bird so she brought it and then claims she rescued it. I dont have a problem with people buying the birds from the pet shops but in australia we dont really have a big problem with the rescue situation with the birds,dogs are another story. both of my tame birds came from a pet shop but I dont consider that I rescued them.

[Ginich]

Well, y'all, just wait until Lynda gets here to set the benchmark. She rescued 25+ cockatiels and lovebirds blown out in the wild by Hurricane Charley a few years ago. My three tiels are adoptees from that group. Our FWCAS Rescue Room http://www.fwcas.org/page7.html has taken in lost, neglected or abandoned birds, rehabed them and found good homes for them but the need continues...http://www.fwcas.org/page8.html . I personally think the word "rescue" can have many connotations but ,basically, moving a bird from a bad situation where it's quality of life is seriously impaired/endangered and placing it in a safe, healthy enviornment.

[Lynjupiter]

When a bird is rescued from a bad pet store I call it ransoming. I agree with those who say not to ransom. You are just encouraging the store to continue the practice of setting up sympathy buys.

Though I can't talk because my second conure Duke BCC was a ransom. When I saw him in the cage bleeding and shivering and heard the little discussion on what they were going to do with him because the manager thought it was going to cost them more then the bird was worth. I paid 150 for him with a promise I would not bring him back and the store would not be responsible for the vet bills. I don't think they set me up, they claimed he had just come in and he was set in the back away from the "livestock".

I agree with Irish to the point that there are a lot of really bad rescues out there. I was taken by one and still feel like an idiot for supporting such a horrible place. Now I set my standards and check out rescues before I support them. But there are some really good ones also. The really good ones NEVER turn a profit, In fact most of the people who run it give out of pocket all the time. I never fail to buy things for the rescue when I grocery shop.
Lynda

[BigBird]

Like the other Aussies have said here, we dont have many shelters for birds. I have bought a couple of rescues from the RSPCA. they are pretty good. When I was about to buy a cockatoo from them they insisted on booking in a home inspection to make sure his aviary was big enough. In the end I decided not to get him and stick with my original plan for the aviary which was to get a flock of lorikeets. Glad I did that, they are so much fun!

The way it seems to work here is you either take the bird to the RSPCA if you find it or want to surrender it. It stays there for a week to see if owner shows up, if not it is on the market for re homing. I bought a lorikeet and a gouldian finch from them. They also put you in touch with home avian enthusiasts (home rescuers) if you find/have a sick bird. These people look after the sick and injured wild life for re-release or rehoming.

The dogs and cats here have a rougher time than our feathered friends. Two of my 3 dogs are pound puppies. One was rehomed 3 times before I got to him. Said he jumped fences and didnt get on with other dogs - I think he was just waiting for me, he loves my other two boys and only tried jumping once when the bitch across the road was on heat and kept jumping into our yard. Had him 5 years now and he is my little white angel. He was 3 days off getting the needle.

As far as the feathered ones go, fortunately I havent seen many birds in need of rescue. I always get phone calls from friends saying a friend has a bird they are sick of do you want it. If I cant take it in, I will always find a home for it for them.