Terminology: What is a 'rescue'?

[Michael]

Please see my post "Introducing Pele". His previous owners were not selfish, I've never seen somebody make a harder decision. If they weren't so selfless and weren't putting the bird before themselves he'd still be sitting in a cage sometimes up to a week without interaction.

You didn't explain what the reason for rehoming Pele is.

I know I'm not one to judge rehomed situations as well as people who have rehomed or acquired rehomed parrots. But this is my impression from the numerous ads I've seen and stories I have heard. There is no doubt that there are good exceptions where there was no other way (as you say people dying or becoming ill). But those seem to be the rare minority of cases while people getting bored of their pets (in all ways) seems to be the majority. At least from things I'm seeing.

[Rrrma]

Please see my post "Introducing Pele". His previous owners were not selfish, I've never seen somebody make a harder decision. If they weren't so selfless and weren't putting the bird before themselves he'd still be sitting in a cage sometimes up to a week without interaction.

You didn't explain what the reason for rehoming Pele is.

I know I'm not one to judge rehomed situations as well as people who have rehomed or acquired rehomed parrots. But this is my impression from the numerous ads I've seen and stories I have heard. There is no doubt that there are good exceptions where there was no other way (as you say people dying or becoming ill). But those seem to be the rare minority of cases while people getting bored of their pets (in all ways) seems to be the majority. At least from things I'm seeing.

The same can be said about the new birds at petstores and the birds coming from backyard breeders. There are way more crappy suppliers than there are quality ones, but you can't lump them all together because of that.

[MandyG]

You didn't explain what the reason for rehoming Pele is.

Their lifestyle has changed. While that does sound like the usual crappy reason for giving up a bird, for them it really wasn't. Circumstances changed and they can't be around as much as he deserves. They've tried to be home as much as possible for the last three years but it wasn't as much as Pele needed.

I know I'm not one to judge rehomed situations as well as people who have rehomed or acquired rehomed parrots. But this is my impression from the numerous ads I've seen and stories I have heard. There is no doubt that there are good exceptions where there was no other way (as you say people dying or becoming ill). But those seem to be the rare minority of cases while people getting bored of their pets (in all ways) seems to be the majority. At least from things I'm seeing.

I'm sure that the majority of re-homes are for selfish reasons, and I'm glad to see that you understand that there are exceptions, even though they are quite rare. I just don't agree with the black and white belief that if you give up your bird you're a bad person.

[Michael]

Also, let's not forget that the kinds of parrot owners you talk to in places like this forum are the cream of the crop. These are dedicated/caring parrot owners who take time out of their lives to research and ask questions how they could serve their pet better. So the intra-good-parrot-owners rehoming may all be for the best. Someone may have done research, bought a parrot, cared for it many years, but then became ill and could no longer care for the bird. We get to talk to these kinds of owners on groups like this because they are the caring kinds of parrot owners that are really victims of circumstance and forced to give up their birds.

However, the other kinds of owners we don't even get to talk to. The ones that made a spontaneous decision to buy a parrot while window shopping. They don't bother coming on a forum like this to learn how to care for their bird when it's no longer a baby and start biting. If they did, we'd hopefully be able to help them and they wouldn't need to rehome. Instead they go on craigs list and look for a buyer that will help them cash out a refund for their purchase to the greatest extent possible. They're not on this discussion to speak for themselves because as I said, they don't really do any of their own research so they wouldn't find this forum. I believe (and it's possible that I am completely wrong) that I am speaking about a very large silent majority. The bias that rehoming is done with the best of intentions happens from a community of dedicated parrot owners sharing stories internal to good parrot owners.

[Natacha]

I kinda wished I had jumped in before but didn't really get around to this thread before now.

I have 4 rehomed birds, which I don't call rescues. I call them rehomes.
However, two of them have came to me through a "rescue". i.e. a place where birds are dropped off/abandoned or which require the people there to actually go get the birds out of a dire situation.

And while I don't agree with the number of parrots in need of a new home and that a lot of it might be prevented if people actually sat down and really looked into what it means to own a bird before getting one, I do think it's in the bird's best interest to get a new home where it will be loved and possibly treated better than in a house where it's no longer wanted.

Now I also agree that there are people out there who must rehome parrots and it's the hardest decision they ever made.

And sometimes, it's not really a decision they can make - they just don't have the choice.

Take Joey.
His former owner LOVED him. He had provided him with so much, he was a member of the local parrot club and was even involved with the executive committee for a while. But eventually he needed to find a new home for Joey. He actually screened a lot of people who had shown interest in Joey - quite honestly, given how old the add for Joey was when I saw it, I pretty much assumed at that point that he had already found a new home but decided to try write anyways.

When I asked the previous owner (who I did know through the Parrot Club) why he was rehoming him, he did say it's because his kids had potentially developed allergies. It didn't sound right, but who was I to say it was or not? When I left with Joey he was totally heartbroken and I have to say I've never seen a guy cry so much over a pet.
Later on, talking with a mutual friend who knew him better, I got wind of the real reason of the rehoming of Joey - the guy's ex-wife wanted Joey gone. They had divorced at that time and I think to spite him, she had told him either Joey goes or he doesn't get to see his kid (she had custody it seems and was pretty much in control of the situation). In a situation like this where he had to basically choose between his pet or his kid, I have to say the choice wasn't hard.
He'd be a pretty crappy dad had it been otherwise.

[pchela]

I have to weigh in as a person who recently rehomed two parrots. I guess technically since they were both babies I could say that I "sold" hand reared babies that I raised just as a breeder would but I bought the baby Grey with the intention of raising him and keeping him. The Caique was a foster and it was always intended to place him in a home so he's a different story I guess.

Anyway, I have to say that until a person is placed in a situation they can have no understanding of what they might do. It's easy to judge somebody for rehoming their birds, I've done it myself, but we never really know the whole story. In my case it was a choice between taking back a previous foster parrot known for biting or finding a home for a sweet hand reared baby Grey. I didn't think the foster parrot had much of a chance of finding a good home and his owner was going to place him in a rescue in Dallas if I didn't take him so my choice was to "rescue" him and "rehome" my bird. To an outsider it would appear that I got rid of one bird so I could get another. And trust me, I've felt guilty about my decision and wish I could take it back daily. I feel like a terrible person and a lot of that is due to the general opinion of people who rehome their birds on sites like these. When they took Rupert and Linus I cried like a baby while my husband held me and I still cry over them from time to time and wish I could go back in time and take it back. Of course, then I'd be crying over Nicodemus and wondering what kind of life he was having in the rescue facility.

I'd personally rather see a parrot rehomed than to have to sit in his cage alone all day and receive little to no attention. If we continue to belittle and shame people for rehoming their parrots without knowing the full story then I believe we are in the wrong and are doing the birds a disservice if by shaming a person we cause them to keep the bird rather than feel guilty for "rehoming" it. Sadly, there are a lot of uneducated, mean spirited or lazy people out there who buy and rehome their birds for bad reasons but there are valid cases of people who are acting in the birds best interest. In most cases there is no way we can determine which is which by reading an ad.

Anyway, rant over.

A rehome is a parrot who is moving from one home to another for a variety of reasons. A rescue is a bird who is in danger of living in poor health or dying because of lack of care, or a bird who nobody else will take because he would require rehabilitation in order to become a good pet. I would also put birds with disabilities or deformities in the rescue catagory.

[Natacha]

I also want to add....although we can promise our birds they will be with us forever, the notion of "forever home" is not one that is common in the parrot world.

Parrots might outlive their owners.

Life situation changes and parrots need to find new homes.


It is easy to judge from the outside. You just have to wish you never have to face such a situation.
As much as I want to think my guys are with me for life, that I choose to take birds in early (as opposed to my late thirties, forties) and birds who, chances are, won't outlive me if I rely on their life expectancy, I never know what will happen down the road.

[pchela]

I also want to add....although we can promise our birds they will be with us forever, the notion of "forever home" is not one that is common in the parrot world.

Parrots might outlive their owners.

Life situation changes and parrots need to find new homes.


It is easy to judge from the outside. You just have to wish you never have to face such a situation.
As much as I want to think my guys are with me for life, that I choose to take birds in early (as opposed to my late thirties, forties) and birds who, chances are, won't outlive me if I rely on their life expectancy, I never know what will happen down the road.

I think this is the best attitude towards rehoming that I have heard. It's realistic and wise. Thanks for sharing Natacha.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

We are old enough to have to worry a bit about a parrot outliving us. I'm not really sure what the best thing to do about that is. But even young people can die too, so I think none of us are completely free from risk! And I've heard some stories of people with health issues or financial issues that were unexpected.

I agree, I guess with the last couple of opinions given. Getting tired of a bird is one thing, but really NEEDING to find a new home is another and it can happen even with the best of intentions.

Horse owners have this worry, too, but not to the same extent.

[a.susz]

natacha, thank you. yes, when people adopt parrots they do not take into consideration how long a parrot will live, when in fact the family would have been better off with a dog that will live for possibly 15 years, where their parrot may possibly live for 40 years. my parrots are young, and i will have them quite possibly into my 50's or even my 60's. This is a reality i knew of before i adopted my birds.