Strange question help!!!

[Cpfishworks]

Hey guys I have kind of a strange question. What do you guys think is the best way to interact with parrots without actually owning a parrot. It may seem confusing but my mom is terrified of parrots due to a bad experience growing up with them and nothing I do or say to her can change her mind about how all birds are mean and will bite her. So I'm looking for input on how I can get experience with parrots without owning one. I'm 15 so I'm old enough to have a job but I refuse to work at a place like pet co. Or petsmart. There is a parrot only petstore near me but they said that I have to be 16 to work there due to liability of an injury. There are no rescues near me that I can volunteer at. The closest one to me is about and hour and a half away which Is too far. So how do you guys think I could interact with parrots and gets some hands on experience based on my situation? Thanks
-CJ

[KimberlyAnn]

Is there a parrot club in your area? I bet you could go to their meetings. What about he spca? Do they take on birds in need?

I wonder if you showed interest in that bird store...would they let you volunteer instead of work? Write up a plan for what you can do for them. Feed, clean cages, handle them? Type it up and bring it in. This will look so good on your resume when you are old enough to land a job too.

What about pet sitting specializing in parrot care? Maybe post an ad on Craiglist that you want more experience and are willing to learn from the owners.

You are one awesome teenager though! Because you recognize that you can't get a parrot, but still want to go after your interests. I bet you will find something and maybe others will have more ideas for you. Awesome job researching this so far! And if you do change your mind about Petco, maybe if you do get a job there anyways...you could make a difference! I worked at some awful preschools before I found some good ones, but I learned a lot along the way.

[Pajarita]

No, don't work in Petco or Petsmart, it's pure heartbreak if you love animals! The birdstore is not going to allow you to volunteer unless you are 16 because insurance doesn't cover people younger than that (we had the same problem with volunteers at the shelter). I don't think there are any bird clubs that hold monthly sessions any longer (everything is now done through the internet) and the shows don't start until October or November (they are always after the breeding season and the molt is over -they want their birds to look their best). What's the name of the town in NY that you live in? I might know of a rescue that would allow you to come and interact with the birds that is not so far away.

[Cpfishworks]

Thank you so much kimberlyann! It means a lot. I know that there is no chance of me getting a bird and I can respect my moms fear of them. They are pretty intimidating creatures. The only experience I had with birds is with my grandmas. She loves birds and has an African gray and a blue and gold macaw. The macaw is the one that bit my mom and made her scared of birds about 20 years ago lol. She is just a sweetheart though. I play with her all the time and love her like she is my own. Same with the African gray. I have pretty much researched every way to interact with parrots around me and unfortunately not much has popped up. I like the idea of pet sitting so I will definitely look into that. What exactly do you mean by a Bird club? And I will try again with that pet store but I doubt that they will let me even volunteer. They seemed pretty stubborn last time I spoke with them.
And pajarita, thank you so much for all the input you have been giving me this past week. I would be willing to travel to a rescue Anywhere between Kingston and mahopac. And don't worry I would never even consider working at a commercial petstore like petco. Thanks again
-CJ

[KimberlyAnn]

Bird clubs...some towns have one. We do around here that I've been invited to, but I never gone because of my work schedule. Just a club of bird and parrot owners that get together. You might do a search for one and see what you can find.

How far away is your grandmother from your house? Maybe ask if you could spend more time over there. Grandmas love that!

I guess I have a different view of things when it comes to work. Any experience you can get is good experience. As long as you continue researching the appropriate ways to do things, you learn. It's something my dad taught me. Work hard and early so that you can get the better jobs later on. Even if it's a crummy pet store. If you can make a change somewhere for the better, you can put that on your resume. I always do. Perfect example with one job...it was a cookie cutter preschool out for money. I started an early literacy program in the school by giving a print rich environment and a writing center for the kids. I was still in high school at the time and just an assistant through an ROP program. Which means I didn't get paid. But it's still on my resume under volunteer work as well as other things I did and it helps me land jobs because they ask about it. I think I have it down as one of my points under the title of the job as this, "Planned and implemented an early literacy program in the form of a writing center with a print rich environment" Yours might say, "Created a healthier environment for parrots that brought interest to the customer and met all of the parrots needs." Or something like that.

I just believe you should never turn down an opportunity to better the world and better your chances to thrive as well. If you show a good work ethic and bring a plan to your boss on how to better their business and the health of the animals, you might just get lucky.

[Pajarita]

KimberleyAnn, I would normally agree with you in terms of work ethics but working for Petco or Petsmart is not improving conditions for animals, it's enabling an industry that treats them as objects. It would be like working for a puppy store because they, same as Petco or Petsmart, get their animals from large commercial breeders (puppy and bird mills). When it comes to animal rights and wellbeing, they are nothing but the enemy (who do you think supports PIJAC?)

[Cpfishworks]

Some people believe that if you work for a pet store you will be able to make a difference personally I do not believe that. I think that you are just helping a company that does not deserve help. The one store that I went to previously and asked for a job at treats their animals great all of the birds have fresh vegetables and clean water every time I am there. That is the only reason that I would work for them.
I still think that the best way to gain experience is to volunteer at the rescue. Pajarita, do you know of any in my general area?

[Pajarita]

There is the Lonely Grey Rescue in Woodbridge (http://www.lonelygreyrescue.org/asite/index.php)

And there is Wings of Hope (http://wingsofhope-nj.com/contact.html) but I don't know exactly where they are located.

I know the people at A Helping Wing but they are up north...

[Cpfishworks]

Where up north? It might be do able . What town?

[Pajarita]

They are in Blairstown.