Jacko's 13th Birthday and Reflections

[Grey_Moon]

So my turkey-girl is 13 today (I don't actually know what her birthday is being a rescue, but she came to me in the summer and my birthday's on the 15th of May and my partner's in July on the 14th--so we put her in the middle ) and I'm just about flat out amazed at how far she and I have come.

Its funny to think that 7 years have gone by just like that---seems not too long ago I was one impatient 14 year old rescuing an angry, phobic grey who'd just hit maturity herself and was damn sure that she was gonna make sure I knew *exactly* what the game plan was
Back then I had no idea of what I was getting into, or what I myself was going through---but seven years out and looking back I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Sure, we've both fought and probably hated each other some days but every rose has its thorns. I don't always appreciate the mess, the plucking or the diva behaviour---but I smile and remind myself that this is the price for love and the greatest friend and teacher I've ever had.

Jay's taught me a lot about myself, and relationships I think in only the way a parrot can. She's taught me a lot about right and wrong, about dignity, respect and love, so these days gods help the fool who says 'well it's just a bird'. I can no longer stomach pet stores or breeders and desperately want to smack sense into those who buy parrots instead of adopting---and myself am desperately trying to buy my birdie supplies elsewhere. If only they knew the extent of the suffering of homeless and unwanted captive-bred birds. If you can buy a parrot you might as well legalize human trafficking.

Personally I would prefer that parrots no longer be bred, and that they'd never been captured in the first place. Those that bravely (or naively) think they're ready for the task of protecting and providing for a parrot should adopt the birds who due to being bred and handfed in captivity could never survive in the wild. Gods know we've got enough to go around.

Its just that every year Jacko gets a little older, and I wonder if she'll ever get to fully enjoy the life that was put on hold for five years in that smoky basement, if the unseen damage done to her will cut her life tragically short. It kills me to think that she might only make it to 30 or so and die of heart disease or god knows what. I can't help but think if one less baby bird hatched then one more bird could be liberated from a basement like her, one life could be saved earlier so the damage could be prevented.

On a parting note---(off to get Jay a strawberry Timbit/doughnuthole as a birthday cake---shhhh don't tell the parrot health police ) I say again RESCUE DON'T BUY OR BREED.

[liz]

Yay for you and your little turkey bird. You have been a good parrot parent and an person I would be glad to call friend.

I hope she does not remember her past. I think about that with Myrtle and hope she does not remember.

Rescues are they way to go as far as I am concerned. No matter what the personality is they blossom with love and care.

When I rescued Myrtle I didn't care if she ever wanted anything to do with me. I just knew I wanted to do for her.

Congradulations to Jacko on her birthday.

I claimed April 1st for Myrtle.

[pennyandrocky]

happy birthday jacko. i picked may 23 to celebrate mya's adoption day it's the day she came home and i filled out the papers. i don't know much about her life before except the woman just put her in a bedroom and closed the door until she went to the rescue. but sometimes she just looks at me like she's amazed at how good her life is now.i almost bought a baby until i saw parrot rescues the pictures made me change my mind i hope people just don't know what's going on.