Does your job/career involve parrots?

[Astrid660]

Anything from bird rescuer to working in a pet store counts. Tell me about your job, how you ended up there, and if you enjoy/enjoyed the work.

I like hearing experiences from others... I have always though I would end up running a rescue but I'm not entirely sure.. Can't stand blood so being a vet is out of the question.

[cockatiel92]

Originally Posted by Astrid660

Can't stand blood so being a vet is out of the question.

thats not a problem because some place actually train people that can't stand blood to be tolerant with it. I actually plan on taking those classes because im really into health but dislike blood lol.

[failurebydesign]

Nope but I am a dog groomer. Does it count that my friend brought her macaw in a few times? LOL :)

[Lisa B]

yep. I own and operate a parrot specialty store. I do not sell birds, but the supplies to keep them happy and healthy. I work along side local rescues to help them find older birds new home.
How'd I get here? Its another step I took in the world of aviculture.
I've founded bird clubs, chaired fundraisers, Board of Directors for a few organizations, VP of the Parrots at Play Calendar program and photo contest, Alex Foundation Volunteer (mainly Dr P) Moderate on the internets largest bird forum, and Admin the AfricanGreyForum.com(our sister site) & have attended and/or co- organized lectures and continuing education seminars in NY and NJ.

Here is how I started...The Platinum Parrot

Do I love it? YES. I'm back out helping people on a daily basis. I do consults, hold classes(not as often as I would like- but I am only one person)
and have improved the lives of birds and shared knowledge with their caregivers at the Jersey shore.
I have a good sized cliental, whom I have taken the time to know personally.
I have clients that travel from several counties in NJ to come here because they trust my knowledge and experience. I do custom orders and personalized shopping.
Its been a very rewarding experience.

[usamma]

Nope. I'm a stay at home mom and nursing student. The birds provide comic relief and distraction. :) They are part of my mental health maintenance.

[asulli]

Well, I am in Human Resources but I would rather be in Parrot Resources! I do like my job though, but given the choice...I would win the lottery, buy a ranch and rescue animals of all kinds.

[SillyArwenBurd]

Hopefully soon!!! but I dont want to jinx it

I took my Sun Conure to a new avian vet on monday to try them on for size... they were fantastic! And as I was leaving they asked me to drop of my resume! I just got a phone call for an interview for next thursday!!!!!!! How bloody exciting is that!?!?!

[asulli]

Originally Posted by SillyArwenBurd

Hopefully soon!!! but I dont want to jinx it

I took my Sun Conure to a new avian vet on monday to try them on for size... they were fantastic! And as I was leaving they asked me to drop of my resume! I just got a phone call for an interview for next thursday!!!!!!! How bloody exciting is that!?!?!

How very exciting for you! Good luck!!!!

[brdfvr]

Don't have a job that deals directly with parrots. . .yet. Hoping to get a job wit a Vet soon (don't want to jinx it either). Have an interview on Monday! And hopefully will be getting into Vet school either next year or the year after. Want to be an Avian Vet!

EDIT: Good Luck to you SillyArwenBurd on your interview. I read you were going to be working directly with an Avian Vet I am so jealous, that is what I want to do, but there are not many Avian Vets around here unfortunately.

[Newticus]

I worked in pet stores for 7 yrs before I left and got a job that actually pays enough to live on :)
For the most part I LOVED it. What could be better then working with what you love everyday? I did lots of different things, I worked in the fish dept for a few yrs, then I was the reptile department manager, then I moved to the bird department.

However it's not all peachy keen because you get to see a lot of disheartening and sometimes terrible things. I had to watch animals go home with the wrong people and not be able to do anything about it without losing my job. I watched animals come back after the customer bought them and really hurt them.
An example of this was a uromastyx (type of lizard) was sold and the people returned it with a broken lower jaw. They managed to crack the jaw in two right at the front. It couldn't eat, couldn't drink. I had to give it liquids and food subcutaniously while it healed. eventually an empolyee took it home where it died.
My girlfriend actually stood up for a dog that some woman bought from her store who wanted to return it. she was dragging it around and holding it up by it's leash so it would choke. She called the SPCA, who did nothing. They gave the woman a warning and then set up an investigation of my girlfriends store (not that they found anything wrong) My girlfriend then got written up and almost lost her job. The worst part is, she was told it was ok to call the SPCA by someone at the stores head office, who then lied about giving permission.

Animals were also sent to us from breeders with illnesses. I watched a baby Senegal die of an unknown birth defect after we'd tried to hard to make it better for a month or so (not knowing what was wrong until the necropsy was done) We had 2 greys with unconfirmed polyoma ect. Both are actually still alive and doing very well!!

All that being said the satisfaction of helping a person find the right pet and seeing it go home with the right person was great. So was teaching people about the animals in the store and helping with school projects related to animals. We also did presentations at daycares and the like. We would bring animals to small children so they could see and pet them and tell them about each animal. That was always a lot of fun!
Another nice thing was the friends you make. I still talk to most of my old work friends because we all shared the same interest in animals. Most of my friends out of work could care less. I also met the love of my life at the pet store :)
The main problem with the pet store I worked for was they did not care at all about their staff, no matter how knowledgable you were,if your were great with the animals. if you had good sales, nothing, we were all expendable and they made sure we knew it.

sigh.
Sometimes I miss that job but like most retail jobs it just does not pay the bills.

Melanie

After a while of working there I figured I probably would make a really g