Finding & Choosing a Sanctuary

If you are deciding to give your bird to a sanctuary or rescue facility, there are several things to consider. Those would include: if your bird was/is a hand-raised or tame bird, if it is a breeder bird being retired, if nothing is wrong with it whatsoever, or if it has one-time or ongoing medical problems.

Many larger sanctuaries (and smaller ones for that matter) cannot deal with potentially contagious diseases. The risk to the existing birds is entirely too high, and most are operating on a shoestring budget and cannot possibly afford to take on ongoing medical costs —particularly if they risk those same costs for many birds, not just one. They may, however, be able to help you in locating a home for your bird.

One thing that is badly needed in the rescue community are facilities that can specialize in terminally ill birds. It would be a heartbreaking venture for sure, but these birds with PBFD, PDD, Papillomatosis, and other eventually debilitating illnesses need love and care for the duration of their lives --without the possibility of infecting healthy birds.

Please understand that these facilities, shelters and sanctuaries spend a great deal of time raising funds to support someone else's bird for the rest of its life. This is not something they complain about, because the service is of obvious importance, and because of their love of these birds. Your monetary contribution to their funding is a tremendous help —even for those shelters who are not registered non-profit organizations. It goes a very long way towards food, caging, toys and medical care.

Here are some things to consider when finding a shelter for your bird:

1. There are millions of abused, abandoned, neglected, and unwanted parrots in the U.S. 35% of all parrots die before they ever realize their natural lifespan. 85% of all parrots are given away or sold within the first two years. Rescues and shelters are able to care for only about 1% of these birds.

2. The biggest limitation is money.

3. The second biggest limitation is space, and that is linked to money :)

4. Misinformation at the time of purchase is one big reason people eventually give up their birds. Most shelters are more than happy to help out with minor behavioral problems and advice. All would rather help facilitate your keeping the bird (if you would like) in an optimum environment than simply take it off your hands. All will have a list of professional behaviorists who can help you.

5. Reputable shelters are not trying to get a “free bird”. Don’t treat them like you are doing them a huge favor —they are doing you one. Each bird is a large time and monetary commitment —between veterinarian costs and the ongoing maintenance of a bird. A reputable shelter is doing this because they love to do it, and not to turn a quick buck.

6. Donate a cage with the bird if possible. It is often frustrating to get a bird with no cage at all —or be asked to pay for one. Optimum, or even adequate caging is usually a struggle to come up with inexpensively. Few shelters have a variety of cages sitting around, and they are usually for absolute emergencies as well as inadequate for long-term housing. Caging for larger birds is, obviously, a considerable expense.

7. Help out the shelter when transferring the bird. They are human beings, and deserve you helping to facilitate the exchange. It is frustrating to deal with cancelled plans, and highly inconvenient or inflexible times. People running shelters don't have the luxury of coming and going at will, even a trip to the grocery store takes planning. Most shelters are willing to work with you, but it is nice if you work with them as well.

8. Donate stuff. Money is not the only item that is needed. Toys and cages (especially for large birds,) bags of pellets, mineral blocks, avian vitamin supplements, travel cages (such as Vari-Kennels), first aid supplies, and cleaning supplies are always appreciated. Ask your local shelter what brands they normally use —or what they need, and donate something.

9. Gift certificates for the shelter’s veterinarian, local pet stores and hardware stores are also very valuable and appreciated.

More Information:

Giving up a Bird - Doreen Gluck
Issues to Consider When Placing a Bird - ParrotTalk.com
Headed for a new home: Tips for adoption and surrender, Parrot Chronicles
Captive Birds: A Hidden Crisis - The Animal Protection Institute
Can I Rescue a Bird? - Joanie Doss

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November 08, 2003