Newspaper ads...so sad

[Vega]

I was reading through the pet ads in my local paper today...and I'm just so sad at what I saw! 1 african grey, 1 moluccan too, 1 scarlet macaw (for $600??), 1 umbrella too, 1 conure, and 1 grasslands parakeet....these ads were placed by 4 different people!! (the grey, conure, and keet were in the same ad)

I'm just so sad to see that many babies "for sale". And the macaw I'm worried about...$600?! It said something about calling for more info, so I'm thinking there's more to the story. Yes, I'm half tempted to call, but I KNOW I don't have the room or money to support another baby at the moment.

It's jsut so so sad.

[Eliza]

Originally Posted by Vega

I was reading through the pet ads in my local paper today...and I'm just so sad at what I saw! 1 african grey, 1 moluccan too, 1 scarlet macaw (for $600??), 1 umbrella too, 1 conure, and 1 grasslands parakeet....these ads were placed by 4 different people!! (the grey, conure, and keet were in the same ad)

It's jsut so so sad.

You know, I saw a similar ad to the grey, conure, 'keet ad in my local paper the other day :(

Sometimes the circumstances are legitimate: a major life change (death, illness) can force owners with the best of intentions to rehome their animal. It always makes me sad when I see a price tag, though. I sometimes wonder if people are selling to make a buck :(

I wish these birds the best, of course and wish that folks who felt the need to rehome would do so with the support of the avian community (seeking help from their vet or from a bird rescue or bird club) rather than gambling with a classified ad.

-e-

[Missi]

I don't know, if I HAD to get rid of Jasmine (GOD FORBID), I would take her to a rescue. I would not sell her in an ad. She is a child, not an item to sell, that's just how I see it.

I know a lot of people are trying to get some of their money back.

[Doyle'sMommy]

That is so sad. $600 for a Scarlett is kinda weird. I hope they get great homes!

[catschair]

There are a lot of folks who have their pets (birds, dogs, cats, etc) "alone" and don't realize there is a whole community of resources and rescue groups out there. Often see folks putting questions on "classified" boards looking for advice. I try to always answer and point them toward folks like yourselves for advice or rescue groups as appropriate, but it does not always work.

P.S. I just can't read the ads or boards on a bad day -- way too sad!

[raddaughter]

So so sad... If I had to rehome (I really hate the words 'sell' and 'get rid of' b/c it makes me think if merchandise) Harley, I would give to a family member or a rescue. I wouldn't want to just advertise in the newspaper or on CL. There are birds on CL all the time' that is how we almost got a grey (but the owners decided to keep her) and most of the time they have found homes by the end of the day. Rehoming Harley to someone I don't know would break my heart...

[Tinna]

I'm thankful if something happened to me my mom would come and take Jean Luc at the drop of a hat until i got better, everyone should always have a back up plan

[Cindy215]

Originally Posted by raddaughter

So so sad... If I had to rehome (I really hate the words 'sell' and 'get rid of' b/c it makes me think if merchandise) Harley, I would give to a family member or a rescue. I wouldn't want to just advertise in the newspaper or on CL. There are birds on CL all the time' that is how we almost got a grey (but the owners decided to keep her) and most of the time they have found homes by the end of the day. Rehoming Harley to someone I don't know would break my heart...

Yes but I think we need to call it what it is. Like all of a sudden everyone is saying they "adopted" a bird and you find out it's just another euphemism for bought. Even some breeder sites say now "Adoptions" instead of Birds For SALE.

Rehome is just a politically correct (in some eyes) way of saying getting rid of the bird.

They ARE merchandise.Bought and paid for.

[Eliza]

Originally Posted by Cindy215

Yes but I think we need to call it what it is. Like all of a sudden everyone is saying they "adopted" a bird and you find out it's just another euphemism for bought. Even some breeder sites say now "Adoptions" instead of Birds For SALE.

Agreed, Cindy.

I bought Beetle, no two ways about it. And while I don't consider a living creature to be merchandise (JMO), bringing him into my life was made by a financial transaction.

I don't know why it bothers me so much for people to say that they adopted a pet (bird, ferret, fish -- whatever) when they clearly got it from a store or breeder, reputable or otherwise. For many, many years "adopting" a pet was reserved for a pet coming from a shelter. I don't know if people have guilt about buying from a store/breeder... or if they just want to make the situation sound better.

-e-

[jriley]

Interesting thread. While I do agree that there are many birds at rescues and with private owners that need homes, I also believe many of us don't have the ability to take in a bird with challenging problems. I also believe that there is no way that the rescues and sanctuaries currently in operation could take in all the unwanted birds that are out there.

It's the same with any kind of pet. While adopting a grown dog or cat can be a rewarding experience, if that dog or cat has had a lot of negative experiences with prior owners they can bring challenges that a typical pet owner can't handle. I see nothing wrong with buying a baby bird or puppy or kitten if you go into the purchase as an educated prospective owner prepared for the challenges involved. Those breeders out there who are supplying that demand do need a way to get the word out and there are indeed many potential owners who are not adept with the computer world and rely on newspaper ads or other sources to find a potential pet.

As far as rehoming goes, yes it is sad when any pet has to go to a new home, whatever the reason may be. It's part of being a responsible pet owner to know what you are getting into and attempt to make plans for future changes in lifestyle, but the fact is that life isn't all that predictable and sometimes a pet just has to go to a new home. A person may lose his/her job or home or health unexpectedly. When I had cancer (at age 26!) and two toddlers at home years ago, I could no longer properly care for my animals. I put my horses into boarding stables with full care and I had to put my golden retriever up for adoption. When I went through my divorce, I couldn't afford to board the horses anymore and couldn't afford to buy property to keep them on, so I had to sell one and place the kids' pony with relatives. I agonized over those decisions and still really miss all of them.

Many rescue groups strongly suggest asking for an adoption fee when giving up a pet because it keeps people who can't afford to properly care for the animal from adopting and it also discourages those people who buy cheap and then resell (a big issue on our local Craigslist right now). It isn't just about trying to get your money back out of a pet, it's about being responsible for getting your pet into a quality home. Sure, there are plenty of people who would provide good homes and can't afford to lay out $600 for a bird. Problem is, how can the current owner be sure you are that good person and not the reseller kind of person? Even if they came to check out your home, there are ways a scammer could make it look okay. Vet records might help, which is what many rescue groups use to judge a potential adopter, but if you live in a different town from the potential adopter it can be hard to tell if the "vet" you are given as a reference is for real or not.

I'm sure there are many people who put ads in newspapers and on Craigslist and in other places that are simply trying to find good new homes for their pets. I'm also sure that there are many excellent pet owners and potential pet owners out there who don't know their way around the internet and rely on those ads to find their new family member (particularly older folks and those in rural areas). When I had to give up my golden retriever, it was 1998 and I didn't know anything about rescue groups and online communities. I used a classified ad in the newspaper and interviewed potential owners and picked the best of those I interviewed to give him to. Some were annoyed (and therefore got eliminated LOL) and it took two weeks, but it was worth it to know he went to a good home.

In an ideal world, there would be no unwanted pets of any kind and pets would start their lives and end their lives in the same loving home. Some people never hit particularly rocky roads in life or have great support systems and never have to make those hard choices. Some people, even those with great intentions, find themselves with a pet that just doesn't work out for them (it's happened to me a couple of times). And, of course, there are many people who do see pets as disposable and who aren't willing to make sacrifices of any kind to become good pet owners.

I honestly believe that the only "source" of pets I have a problem with are pet stores. They are really geared toward the impulse buyer (they've gotten to me that way many times, sorry to say) and, while my "purchases" have always worked out (my darling American Eskimo dog was an impulse buy at the mall that I've never regretted but feel guilty about), I'm sure many of the "throwaway" pets out there started out at pet stores. It's harder to be impulsive about buying from a breeder or even from a classified ad. I've seen many ads that really tempted me but then I had time to talk myself out of the impulse before arranging to drive over to see the pet or even on the drive over. One nice thing about getting a baby bird from a breeder is that, once you choose a quality breeder, there is usually a wait involved before you can get your baby. It makes you really think about what you are doing and the cost also makes you want to be really sure.

Anyway, I'm starting to ramble. Moral of the story is that you don't know the story behind the ads and just because there is an ad it doesn't mean the pet is being discarded. The other moral is to have your spouse or friend hold your credit card for you when you go into a pet store LOL.

Julie