Safe Haven for Large Parrots in NE Ohio:

Before you take your large parrot to the animal shelter, consider placing it in a parrot-friendly home environment in Ohio.

My husband and I take in unwanted large parrots that are in need of a loving new home and give them what they need and deserve: a wonderful home with life-long love and proper care. We have no kids but do have lots of time, room and bird experience. All large fids are welcome and will spend the rest of their (or our!) lives with us: pluckers, biters, screamers, handicaps, all ages are welcome and will be kept busy, happy, and healthy in our home.

Cage donations are very much appreciated (thank you Jill and family for your generous donation consisting of 3 cages and a playgym!!!). Please contact (email) Annie @ friendsofparrots@yahoo.com. The fids and I thank you.

Anne,

Although I think it is wonderful that you would like to do this for our fid friends. You post sounds like an ad. Have you tried posting this on the classified section here on BBC?

I also take in birds, but I always offer to buy the birds. I would suggest that you also have folks sign a contract with you about the birds they place with you. I once took in a bird and after I did the lady tried to claim I bought it and never paid her, she took me to local court, she lost of course because there were witnesses to her placing the bird with me. BUT had I done a contract with her she would not have been able to try what she did in the first place.

oh how wonderful of you to take a FEE for taking someones bird- you make me laugh, cough , choke.
if some one is going to give you the bird- the last thing they should be doing is paying YOU to take the bird. I really get sick of people looking for free birds- they generally turn around and within 5 yrs these people no longer have any birds (just money in their pocket)
I have seen classified ads that say if you are looking for free birds do not post here- the ads go on and on- people begging for birds that they can not afford- how are they going to care for them ???? and then since they never paid a dime for the bird- that's about all they invest in them- really sad!

Hi papetlover,

Thank you for your kind message and for showing that you care about animals in need. Until yesterday I too have asked everyone what -if any- adoption fees they are asking for their birds. Then I met a wonderful nice lady in the UK who does rescue there and she adviced me against doing this. Basically she said that it may encourage bad people from selling stolen birds to you. She also said that anyone who truly wants a good home for their bird will gladly give you the bird. But of course most will try selling their unwanted birds first, almost always problem birds, and when that fails then they'll look into throwing them into animal shelters. The most unfortunate cases are those where the owners are neglecting and abusing the birds, locking them up in closets, basements, atticks, garages, keeping them covered up all day, only because they paid so much for the bird and are aware that they can never get that money back so they rather keep the bird and continue neglecting and abusing it than giving it to a shelter or sanctuary where the bird would live the rest of its life in a wonderful, loving, caring environment with people interaction as well as other birds.
Thanks for sharing your experience with me and I'm sorry that you had a bad one with that one person who took you to court. I am aware of this possibility and that is why I do everything through email. Once and if we start taking phone calls, then we'll surely need people to sign statements.

Thanks again and I apologize for keeping this so brief. If there's anything else you'd like to discuss, please email me as I don't check this board very often.

Sincerely,
Annie

Hi Bali,

Thank you for your message. Your anger and frustration are understandable. I too have seen ads online that don't sound like there is much good intention behind them. The thing with internet is that you can't truly know a person's intention nor what it is that they are really doing until you meet them in real life, visit their home and see how everyone in it is living. Keeping this in mind, I'm not offended by your ad at all as you don't know me. If you did, you'd know that I care about animals and that I'm doing this for them, not me. I'm not a greedy person nor was I ever after money: animal rescue, if done with the animals' wellbeing in mind, makes you spend money (lots of it too), not make any! Doing any kind of pet rescue is not for people who cannot afford to do this. There are lots of expenses that come with this, believe you me. Did you ever stop and think that all of these birds will need big cages, toys and perches (that they destroy on a regular basis), a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as nuts (and not just seeds), regular vet visits and more likely than not heavy vet treatment for all sorts of problems that they come with due to having been neglected for months, some for years? If you ever tried doing rescue yourself, you'd know all of this. Having a parrot sanctuary/haven means that you'll be caring for many parrots very likely until the end of your life. It is a life-long commitment, not something that is over in 5-10 years. Most people have no appreciation for animal rescues until they're directly involved in them themselves. Thus I don't expect you to see my view and that of many (but not enough) others who are doing the same as I. As for the rest, the bad guys, I cannot speak for them and -like you- I too am furious about their contribution to animal neglect and abuse all done for the sake of profit with the animal never in mind!
I sincerely apologize for having to stop writing right now as I'm behind on chores. I wish I could have discussed more with you as there is so much that you'd benefit from learning about this topic. If you wish, you can always email me privately and we can continue with our conversation.

Thanks again for writing and for expressing your care about animals.

Sincerely,
Annie

The new wording up there should be a bit clearer now!