Michael wrote:And I absolutely stand by the comment that "If you can barely afford the price of the bird, you can't afford to keep it." I guess if someone gives you the bird it may be different but the discussion assumed a new bird from the start. If the price of the bird is overbudget, then the lifeterm cost will be impossible to pay.
I'm really having a hard time trying to understand how that statement could possibly be true.
"If the price of the bird is overbudget, then the lifeterm cost will be impossible to pay".
If you're able to have $1,000 - $3,500 in your monthly budget for spending money then you're very lucky, but the majority of people cannot live that way. If we want something that's so expensive like buying a bird then most of us have to save a little bit (if not a lot) first. Just because we don't have that amount of money sitting around waiting to be spent does not mean we can't afford to keep a parrot.
"If you can barely afford the price of the bird, you can't afford to keep it."
As you pointed out in [url]viewtopic.php?f=7&t=320[/url] the start-up costs can be very high. That start-up cost doesn't come close to the monthly cost of a parrot. I really can't understand how you're even trying to compare the start-up costs to the maintenance costs.
And just to hopefully open your eyes a little bit, I could barely afford the price of my bird. And I mean I saved for many months. Today I would not be able to afford another bird, it would take me a long time to be able to save that amount of money again. But just so you know, I CAN afford to keep my bird, and my dogs, and maintain a 120g fish tank AND I have a horse (they aren't cheap to keep). And my animals get the best care possible. High quality food (they eat better than I do), treats, training, vet care, etc. I can afford the monthly costs of keeping each of those animals, and I'd be able to provide emergency vet care if it was necessary, because like any responsible pet owner, I do save up for emergencies. But again, I SAVE up for emergencies to have those funds there. Could I go out and buy one of these animals tomorrow if I wanted to? No. But that doesn't mean I can't take care of the ones I have, or take care of a new bird once I did save up for the initial cost.
So please, don't say that I can't afford to properly take care of my bird just because my circumstances are different than yours.