Why Adopt?

You may wonder why anyone would adopt a bird when it is so easy to go to any pet store and buy one.  You may wonder if an adopted bird is going to be as healthy or well-adjusted as a bought one.  Unfortunately, for those in the business of rescue and placement, the issue of bird adoption is still not well-known.  Most people are not even aware that many birds are in need of adoption, just as dogs and cats are.

Most Americans know about the huge pet overpopulation problem.  They know about animal shelters, humane societies, and rescue groups.  The concept of puppy mills is becoming more recognized as well.  What people do not realize, however, is that for every type of animal thought of as a pet, there are people willing to exploit these animals through unscrupulous breeding and/or trapping in the wild.  Today we have bird mills and hobby breeders just as we have puppy mills and backyard breeders, creating a huge disparity between the number of available birds and the number of available homes.

We also have a continuing trade in wild-caught birds, a practice that is illegal in the US, but which nonetheless remains a lucrative and deadly business.  Estimates by the Worldwatch Institute reveal that almost a third of the world's 330 parrot species are in danger of extinction, due in large part to the pet trade.  The smuggling of wild-caught birds is believed to be in the millions, while an inestimable number are injured or die in the process.  (See Captive Birds-A Hidden Crisis)

Add to these tragedies the number of homes where birds are kept in neglectful, or even abusive, conditions and you have a dire need for rescue and adoption.  Many people simply do not know how to care for birds.  A multi-colored parrot or one that makes clever remarks is incentive enough for impulse buyers.  The prestige of "owning" an exotic animal is another factor.  Some people will eventually come to realize the error of their purchase and relinquish a bird to a rescue group, while others may need legal pressure to surrender a neglected animal.

Another situation is the bird who outlives his or her guardian.  The lives of many parrot species can be as long as a human's.  The cost of a companion bird's health care may overwhelm some people, who make the decision to give them up.  And, just as occurs with dog breeders, some breeders of birds may turn over their unwanted "stock" to a rescue group.

These are only a handful of reasons why more people wanting a bird should consider adoption.  After careful consideration of the costs, work, and time involved in keeping a bird, adopting an avian companion may be the best decision an animal lover can make.  You can see some frequently asked questions by going to our FAQ page.  If you are interested in adopting a bird, please fill out an Adoption Application (you will see the links to our application on the Adoption Process page), and take a look at the birds we have.  (You may also want to review the application in advance, because it contains detailed information concerning our adoption process.)  Keep in mind we will not ship any of our adoptable birds, and we do not adopt to breeders.