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Puff's Story	Hello My namne is Kelly Zolinski and I adopted a Goffin's Cockatoo, Puff, one year ago from "the rescue". I volunteered there for less than 6 months, but spent countless hours there. During that short time I saw things I have yet to step forward with, but it's now time. Although I happened to be significantly physically disabled, I spent hours holding and talking with the birds. I developed a keen sense of observation of cage conditions, food consumption, birds' moods and temperaments, etc. I had discovered "the rescue" on-line and was impressed by the web site. I formally applied to be a volunteer, but was never trained or "oriented" as their signs claim is required.
Puff caught my attention because he was never taken out of his cage during my first several weeks and I inquired why. He apparently was an annoyance as he would fly directly to the floor and run around under the other cages. I decided to push my luck and figured out a way to open his cage (despite my very limited arm usage). He would step tight up onto my wrist and our love affair began. Everyone at the sanctuary commented on how they couldn't believe how this bird acted with me. I adopted him approx 5 months later..... no application was filled out and no home visits ( which I brought up several times directly to "the director") were ever conducted to make sure I was appropriate. Only the money was exchanged. Puff is exceptional, "famous" even, due to the surgery that was conducted on him at the Vet... where my mother works. Puff was famous throughout "the rescue" and Madison as the bird who "had a crop graft", a technically amazing avaian surgery. Apparently fund raisers were held by "the rescue" for this miracle. Upon my first Wellness Exam at the Vet with Dr. [Name Withheld], I commented to the vet that he is practically revered for the amazing graft and could he show me the scar from the graft. Dr. [Name Withheld] corrected me and said that no graft was conducted, but rather a wire around the neck was surgically removed, along with necrotic and scar tissue. Puff was originally thought to have crop burn until the wire was discovered. That day, I bought Puff's entire medical record from the Vet and "crop burn" is crossed out of the record. The total cost of Puff's surgery and medical care while at "the rescue" was less than $800 total. I was told that thousands of dollars were raised for Puff's care. After adopting Puff in May of 2005 I tried to go back and continue my volunteer work. I thought I had found my passion, but my conscience and gut feelings about the other things I'd seen, drove me away for ever. While a volunteer I was the one who discovered that a disabled lovebird had had it's beak entirely bitten off by an Eclectus named Annie, who had escaped her cage the night before. When I brought this to the "lead" volunteer's (Name Withheld) attention, the small, still breathing bird was taken to a back room and I never saw it again. No vet was called, no rush to the vet. I had a gut feeling it had been "put out of it's misery", although that was never said to me. When another volunteer came in that day (Name Withheld), I relyaed to her what had happened. I was later that day scolded by "the director" that we don't discuss things that that to others because "they are too sad". A red flag went up. I inquired numerous times of numerous people why Polly's beak was not corrected or under treatment. I was told that it was up to the owner and that the owner had not officially surrendered the bird and therefore "the rescue" could not do anything about it. The last time I was at "the rescue" I drove Barb C. and a very, very, sick cockatiel, name unknown, to the Vet. It had been attacked the day before by another larger bird. By the time we arrived there was really no hope. Dr. [Name Withheld] even stated that she was not expecting the bird to be in that bad of shape based on the phone call she'd received from "the rescue". The bird died that day. I overheard many conversations that I'm sure were never meant for my ears, but perhaps I just looked too harmless to makes waves.... quiet woman in a wheelchair probably isn't even listening. How could I not notice the verbal bashing of some adoptive appplicants, of other rescues and groups, of some volunteers or board members. I am happy to say that Puff, the one-and-a-half year old female Goffin's I adopted for $800, is actually an approx 3-4 year old, happy, healthy, male. We now call him Puff Daddy. The Vets are VERY aware of the complaints and grievances people have expressed to them over the years about "the rescue and Dr. [Name Withheld], expressed that people really need to get ANY bird they've adopted to an avian vet ASAP for wellness exams no matter where they come from. Jennifer, feel free to get this on the website. Best Wishes Kelly Zolinski
Our Story on Our Bird Guito
The day that we handed Guito over to the thieves, was the last day we would ever see him again. Guito, our beautiful sun Conure, was having a problem with my wife. It could have been jealousy, or it could have been the food, but we could not stop getting him to bite my wife. He started doing this about seven months earlier. I understand any animal bites if confronted or defending themselves, but he would just bite because either he wanted to or just for the attention, but it was starting to get old. We got the number for the animal sanctuary and we called them. They informed us that maybe it was the food we were giving him, because the sugar was getting him all hyped up. They said that sunflower seeds have a chemical in it to make these birds aggressive. So, we got his food, with no sunflower seeds in it, and somehow he got a little bit more aggressive, but we never considered getting rid of him because we did have him for eight years. We had told them that we were going on vacation, and what could they do to curb his biting, and they said they would put him in isolation, giving him special food of cous cous, and other seeds and vegetables. We had to drop off another cage and various bird items, and she said that she would cut us a check for these items, for tax purposes. So now, we thought that he was going to have better food, and some behavioral training, and then we were on our way. Dropping him off was the hardest thing I had to do. I cried as they clipped his wings. I walked out of there crying my eyes out, and feeling like I would never see him again. Every time I would walk in that building the day we dropped him off, I would start up again. One of the workers said "It will be the best thing you'll ever do." Right then and there, I knew that I would never see him again. The people there reassured me that he will be in good hands. He wasn't going anywhere; after all, he's going to get, "rehabilitated", right? After the tearful goodbyes, we went on vacation. We came back and anticipated the better trained Guito bird. They pointed to the Conure, and he sounded like he was being tortured. Screaming all the time and biting me three times, drawing blood every time he bit, which Guito never did to me. He seemed a little smaller, and he didn't bob his head, or swing his head, or shake his wings when he saw me. He'd always shake his wings a little bit, and lean my way while doing it, if he wanted to sit on my shoulder. This Conure never did any of these things. I said, "He sounds like he was being tortured" because of his constant high screaming. The owner of the sanctuary got in my face and got very loud to me and said that he was not being tortured. And I said "no", and she got even louder, and then she was going to throw me out of the establishment, then she walked away, saying she wanted me out. I stood there, amazed at what this bird was doing to me. I thought that it was his new food, but something was not right. The owner then returned, with that mad face, and then I said I was sorry that I said that, and she apologized. I was wondering what happened to our money, for the bird cages, and she put the blame on a slow computer, and the printer was not responding very well. She was going to get that done as soon as she was going to fix the problem. We never got money or paperwork on what we donated to this place for other birds. We wanted to try again, to get Guito back, or at least, find out what happened to him. See if he got to a good home. Then one day, about three weeks later, at Petsmart, we ran into some of the volunteers who were at the sanctuary the day we brought Guito there and we got the news that Guito was sold the shortly after we dropped him off for behavioral training. The owner of the sanctuary was a very good liar, and tried to pass off a different Conure as our Guito and she got away with murder! We called the cops and they could not do anything about it, we had to have evidence. They catch crooks everyday, and there was one at this place! I guess crime does pay off! Dwaine & Mara Schessow
I remember the day that Dwaine and Mara Schessow came in to the "rescue" like it was just yesterday. I remember how very upset Dwaine was about the idea of possibly giving up Guito a nd the tears that were shed for this little bird who obviously loved him so very much. A few of us spoke with him and his wife and the "director" suggested that the Schessows leave Guito for a few weeks for some behavioral training. At this time, they did not surrender him and he was simply there for behavioral training. About a week or two after Guito was dropped off at the "rescue" for behavioral training, I received an email from the Director and I couldn't believe what it said. She had confessed to actually adopting Guito out to a different family. I thought that she had really lost her mind and I asked her what in the world she was going to say to the Schessows when they came back for Guito. The Director was certain that they would not be back for him because they hadn't even called to ask how he was doing. She said that if they did come back that she would just pass off another, not nearly as nice, Sun Conure as Guito and was certain they wouldn't know the difference. I remember seeing how attached to Guito Dwaine was and I told her that she had better hope that they didn't come back for him because I was certain that they would indeed be able to tell that this new Sun Conure was not their beloved Guito. I wasn't there the day that the Schessows came back for Guito, but I heard about it from other volunteers who were there and it was not the wonderful reunion that the Schessows had been hoping for. They finally decided to surrender the bird they thought to be Guito because he seemed to have gotten worse not better. The day we ran into them at Petsmart and told them of what we knew about the switching of Guito with the other Conure, they said that they just knew that the bird they surrendered couldn't have been Guito and they thanked us for letting them know the truth but it was still very hard for them to swallow. We tried to help them file a report with the police but the police told them that there really wasn't anything they could do and that it was considered a small claims court problem. I felt so badly for the Schessows who had absolutely no recourse in this matter. Jennifer Fleishman
Annie	Annie, a female Solomon Island Eclectus, came from a loving home where her family just didn't have the time for her and were having problems with her sexual maturity issues. They had spoken with the Director on and off for many months and finally decided to bring her in to the "rescue" after it was discussed that she would be living with the Director at home and would not be put up for adoption. Annie arrived at the "rescue" with a wonderful Kings cage and tons of toys and the agreement between her family and the Director was that Annie was to go home and live with the Director and her husband and their flock of birds. The Director promised Annie's family that all of her belongings, cage, toys, etc, would stay with her. Annie's family would come into the "rescue" every few weeks and when it was apparent that Annie wasn't going home with the Director, Annie's family was very upset. After a lot of time and talking, it was decided that Annie would be put up for adoption. A volunteer was very interested in taking her home and Annie's family did agree to this.
While Annie's fate was being decided, she escaped out of the feeder door of her cage one night and attacked a Lovebird from outside of the Lovebird's cage. When the Director showed up the next morning and found the Lovebird, she had a volunteer go into the bathroom and kill the Lovebird instead of taking it to the vet to be examined. This was routinely done for birds that didn't look like they would survive rather than taking them to a vet to make sure that there was nothing that could be done for them, or at the very least, to put them down humanely. This organization also boasts that it is a "no kill" facility. This incident with Annie was never told to the volunteer who eventually adopted her. It was mentioned to those of us who knew about it that we weren't to say anything to anyone. Annie went home with her new family and was there several months before tragedy occurred yet a second time. The family had a wonderful little Green Cheek Conure who was fully flighted and one day, he was spooked and flew from his cage in another room and landed on Annie's cage. Annie immediately attacked him and he lost most of his beak. The volunteer who adopted Annie was very upset and took the little Green Cheek to the vet immediately as well as calling the Director to let her know what had happened. After several days, at least a $1000, and lots of tears, the little Green Cheek died. Never once did the Director tell this volunteer about what had occurred at the "rescue" while Annie was there, even though the volunteer was in constant contact with her. It was decided by Annie's new family, that she had to be returned to the "rescue" because they just had too many trust issues with her. They were also in the process of adopting a Greenwing Macaw when this tragedy occurred. The Greenwing Macaw did go home with them and Annie came back. There was no reimbursement for Annie's adoption fee and the volunteer also paid the full adoption fee for the Greenwing Macaw. After Annie came back to the "rescue", her former family had contacted the volunteer who adopted her, asking how she was doing. This volunteer had no idea what to say to them. She contacted the Director and was told that she shouldn't contact them back, but her conscious won out in the end. Both of Annie's "families" went to the "rescue" shortly after a long discussion and picked Annie up. The Director was furious and I believe one thing she said was that she was sorry she had ever set eyes on "that bird". There was an adoption pending on Annie through the "rescue" at the time that she was picked up. Annie's former families decided to continue with that adoption process but they did not take any money for placing her with her new family and they did ask that a contract be signed stating that, should her new family ever not be able to care for her, that she be returned to one of her previous families. Annie's story finally had a happy ending thanks to people who really cared about her. As an aside, none of her things ever did remain with her. Her cage was actually sold to a volunteer. Jennifer Fleishman Barb Cooley's story about Annie: A bird named Annie came in and got out of her cage one night and just before the warehouse opened, had bit the face off a Lovebird. A volunteer who was there said that another volunteer took the bird to the bathroom. When I came in, the director told me that I was never to tell this to anyone. I questioned her and thought that if volunteers were told, everyone would be extra careful and make sure the cages were locked. She said No! When a volunteer was to adopt Annie, I again asked the director if this volunteer was told what Annie did so she would be aware that this could happen. The director told me that this volunteer didn't need to know about it. Later I was very sad to find out that the volunteer had a wonderful little Green Cheek Conure that flew over by Annie and the same thing happened. The volunteer lost her bird later, after some vet care. I was very upset to see that the director didn't seem to care about it at all. She just said, "These things happen." I told her that I believed that if she would have told the volunteer about what Annie had done earlier that the volunteer would have been much more aware of the danger. Barb Cooley
Rocky and Marble	This is Rocky and Marble. Rocky has passed away, but had a wonderful home for the time that he had on this earth. Here is his story: The first time I saw Rocky was when I was a volunteer at a local bird warehouse. She came in with the owner who had cancer and was no longer able to care for her. I told him not to worry, that we would take good care of her. I had no way of knowing at the time how wrong I was. Other birds would pick on her. I worked to find her a friend that wouldn't. I did, her name is Marble.
One day I came in to work and saw that all the small birds were gone. I was shocked, but happy, when I was told by the director that they had all been adopted to wonderful homes. Even Rocky and Marble were placed together. Later, I went to the V.F.W. bird sale and saw the birds that were all "adopted" for sale. I felt as if someone hit me hard in my stomach. I was very upset that I was lied to by this director. What really happens to the smaller birds is that a friend of the director from Milwaukee comes and picks up birds and goes around trying to sell them. Now I was seeing a side of this person I didn't like. She wasn't doing what she promised the owners of the birds at all. There was no love or concern for any small birds. They had no money value. Several months later, I saw the same Cockatiels that had haunted me almost daily at the V.F.W. again. I couldn't keep my tears from falling as I told the people I would pay for those two birds. They talked to the director of the warehouse and were told that if they didn't sell that day to bring them back. They did. I was shocked when I picked them up. You could only feel bones. They were both so frail. Rocky had sacks of blood under both of her wings. No feathers under her body and not many on her back. After looking her over closer, one of her eyes were buldging out. I asked to take her home that night. I also took her friend Marble so she wouldn't be so afraid. Rocky did live with us for several months. We took her to the vet where I was told something I already knew; that she was beat up pretty bad. She was also going blind and had glocoma which is very painful for a bird. We had about four visits to the vet and medicine for her eyes. Rocky was very much loved here with us. She sat in the sun on the back of the couch a lot. She enjoyed fresh air on the breezeway and there is a lot of freedom here. I didn't want them to look through bars any more than they had to. The picture of Rocky in the foreground was taken the day after I brought her home. Her and Marble had a bath and were enjoying the sun. It is dated 6-5-05. Rocky died while I was holding her on 10-10-05, around 5pm. She looked up at me, stretched out one wing, blew a bubble, and died. I cried...she was a very special and wonderful little friend. She is burried here where she was loved. Fly little Rocky Fly fast and fly hard Fly up to heaven my friend Fly little Rocky Fly fast and fly hard Where no one can hurt you again! Barb Cooley
Baby's Story Baby is a Severe Macaw who would board with the "rescue" frequently. Baby was very bonded to his owner and was showing signs that his owner didn't care for, such as screaming whenever he didn't get his way, going after the dogs that lived in the house, and, in general causing a lot of distress in his owner's life. His owner felt that it was best to finally surrender him because she was afraid for what might happen between her dogs and Baby as well as the fact that she didn't have the time for him anymore. This decision was so hard for her, that she had to have friends bring Baby in the day he was surrendered. Baby was the type of bird who would bond with one person and I was his chosen person while he was at the "rescue". I adored this bird and only wanted the best for him. I was chastised by the Director for not wanting to take him home, but with four birds of my own, one a small Cockatoo who already had screaming issues and a Timneh grey who was overbonded to me and was nasty to any other bird who wanted my undevoted attention, I knew that Baby couldn't come home with me. I would have loved to have given Baby a home, but my home was hardly the idealic lifestyle that I felt Baby deserved. Baby also had issues with other animals in his old home, so I knew it wouldn't work. I felt so very sorry for him though because no one else would take him out of his cage while he was at the "rescue" because of his bonding issues. The only one who ever took him out was me, it tugged at my heart to know this. It was apparent one day, that Baby took a liking to a woman who had adopted an Umbrella Cockatoo from the "rescue" about six months prior. I was stunned and esctatic that he would go to someone else besides me. The Umbrella Cockatoo that was adopted to this woman was thriving, but I could see issues down the line for him if her relationship with him ever changed. She set no boundaries for him and would give in to his every whim. I was against the adoption of the Cockatoo as was the Director and her husband, but she kept coming in and spending time with him. One day, she told us that she had already bought a cage for him and when the Director told her that she had to fill out an adoption application and that there were others interested in adopting him, she burst out crying right then and there. This was when it was decided that the adoption would proceed because the Director had never been good with face to face confrontation and couldn't bare to tell her no. The Director has since stated that she had worked very hard with this person to get her ready for the adoption of the Cockatoo, but in reality, there is very little they do with anyone who comes through the door and the simple fact that this woman kept coming back to the "rescue" to see the bird was what the work with her amounted to. I have to say that I was a bit leery about adopting yet another bird to her, but Baby clearly liked her and this tickled me to no end. She also showed large interest in Annie, a female Solomon Island Eclectus who also had issues in multiple pet homes and a plucked Rose Breasted Cockatoo, Velvet, who we believed to have food allergy issues. When I told her that Velvet required a very special diet, she was no longer interested in Velvet, but was still very interested in adopting both Baby and Annie. The whole road to my demise was paved by this single potential adoptee and a conversation that I had with her over leaving her Cockatoo out in her new bird room unattended for long periods of time every day and her desire to do so with Baby and Annie as well, should she adopt them. After this conversation, I was stunned and no longer felt that these birds would be safe in her home. I had reservations about Annie already, but I finally started feeling very uncomfortable about placing Baby with her and I wondered if the Cockatoo was even safe. I voiced my opinion to the Vice President and the Director and was met with a termination letter from the Director. Baby was left there when I was terminated and didn't find a home for several months after my dismissal. I only hope that he has found a good home. I still think of him often. Jennifer Fleishman
Polly	UPDATE ON POLLY Polly passed away at the Vet clinic on Wednesday, May 24, after many, many treatments for an infection that is still unknown. The final words from the last vet who treated her is that she had been sick for a very long time and that treatment should have occurred much sooner. Remember that this bird sat at this so called "rescue" for four months, never once receiving any kind of vet care, even after the "Director" told the owner who was boarding her that she would go to the vet. Barb Cooley paid to get this bird out of this disgusting situation and immediately sought out vet treatment for her, but it was too little, too late. Polly did have a number of wonderful months with Barb, and she will never be forgotten by Barb, but I'm sure that her original owner doesn't have a care in the world and neither does the "rescue" who was supposed to be looking out for her best interests instead of their pocket book. A rescue that runs like this has absolutely no conscious! Please, we beg you to be careful about where you take your birds should you ever find yourself in a position to rehome them. And for those of you who are checking this web site every day and are still supporting this rescue...take a long, hard look at yourselves and really ask yourself if you want to be a part of something like this. Feel free to email us, there are plenty of other stories that we can't put up here because they didn't happen to us, but we'd be happy to share with you privately.
The second and third pictures are recent pictures of Polly's beak, after six months of extensive treatment.	Polly's story actually begins with me, Jennifer Fleishman, and the day her owner had decided to bring her into the "rescue". We had been talking to the owner about boarding her for a while but she had some kind of a beak infection that she was being treated for. The director told the owner that Polly needed to be vet checked for her beak before she could board with the "rescue", but the owner said she didn't have time to do this before she left the country. The director told Polly's owner that the Director would take Polly to the vet and that any bills incurred would then be added to the boarding bill and could be paid when the owner came to pick Polly up. I was naturally a bit hesitant to take Polly in, not knowing what kind of beak infection she had and arranged for a friend to take her until we could get Polly checked out by a vet. I was vetoed and Polly came in without a vet check, regardless of the fact that she could have some kind of contagious disease. During the time that Polly was "boarding" with the "rescue", she was never once taken to a vet. Polly did arrive at the "rescue" with medication for her beak and another volunteer was putting it on Polly until the Director found this out. The Director didn't like this volunteer and was furious about the fact that she went ahead and did this and I personally saw the Director throw the medication away. Polly's owner never came back for her. Barb Cooley's Story: I first noticed Polly in a small green cage, which her color blended into perfectly. She always sat in the corner up at the top directly under a toy dog that I later found out was hers and was brought in with her by her owner. Medicine was also brought in for her very bad beak. I talked to a volunteer who had put the medicine on Polly once when the directorof this bird warehouse took it away from the volunteer and threw it in the trash. Polly's beak grew longer, became even more black. Polly was very afraid, but came to trust me some, and would run up my arm and sit on my shoulder. She would always jump over my hand. Hands still scare her. After witnessing more and more bird neglect and lying to people who brought birds in, or who came to see birds to maybe take them home, I needed to quit being a part of this place. It was very hard to quit because I cared very much for the birds. The last day I worked there, I bought Polly so I could get her the much needed vet care she deserved. She came home with me on 7-30-05 and I took her to the vet where tests were done on her beak which was badly infected. It was very sore. Again, medicine was bought, but this time it was used. With time and much care, Polly's beak is looking better. We still have a long way to go, but now Polly has people who are truly doing what is needed to care for her. I wish to thank the people at the vet school who are all helping her. It will take lots of time to win her trust fully, but she seems happy and that's all I need. The reason for sharing Polly's story with you is I want you to know that if you need to give up a pet, please be very careful about who you trust. Some of the worst people in the world can be very charming and seem caring. If you want to take a bird home, the people who say that all the birds are vet checked should be able to give you the bird's records. These records would be on a vet's paper. This will show you how honest they really have been with you. Barb Cooley
Ozzie	I first met Ozzie when I was a volunteer at a local bird warehouse. There was something about this bird that drew me to him. He had a way of looking me straight in the eye that I found very strange. I soon found out what a serious bite he had. For three days, I thought my finger was broken. I have learned that if you want to have a bird as a pet, you will most likely get bit at some time or another. That's just the way it is. I witnessed a day where Ozzie was throwing up a lot; five times that I saw. I brought this to the director's attention. She also saw it. She said that she called the vet and was told to keep him quiet but that he would be fine. She pushed his cage to the other side of the warehouse and covered his cage with a sheet. I was afraid that would be the last day I would see Ozzie. I asked her what vet she had talked to and then called him the next day from home. I wanted to find out if what I had been told was true. If it was, I didn't want him for a vet for my birds. He assured me that this was not the case. He said that he had told the director that if the bird threw up once to keep him quiet and keep an eye on him, but that if he threw up more, he should be seen.
I confronted the director with this and she then said that the vet talks to so many people that he forgot what he told her. That was the straw the broke my back. I couldn't stand by and see any more birds suffer from any more neglect. But every time people came in, they would always lie and say that all the birds are vet checked. I knew that even the sick birds weren't taken care of. I quit, but the day I did, I asked to buy Polly, a bird with a very bad beak. I didn't think anyone would take her home to care for her. Every time I showed her to people they would pull away when seeing her beak. I wasn't able to get Ozzie out of my mind. I knew that most of the other volunteers didn't want to experience Ozzie's bite, so he probably wouldn't get out of his cage much. I am in no way blaming the volunteers for this and I hope they understand why I'm saying this. I knew that because I quit, the director would hold it against me and probably wouldn't let me buy Ozzie. I called a friend of hers and she smoothed the way for me. I went to get Ozzie; he, of course, bit me. I do think he was mad at me for leaving him. The director then charged me $100.00 more for Ozzie than she was originally asking. I paid her the ransom and took Ozzie home. Ozzie is now a sweet and happy bird. He still bites once in a while, but I'm getting wiser and faster! Barb Cooley
Paris	This is Paris. Paris came in to the "rescue" with another Goffin's Cockatoo, Puff, in October of 2004. Puff was the larger of the two birds but had a huge bulge in her neck. These birds were purchased from a Humane Society (this organization states on its web site that it NEVER purchases birds, not even to save them from horrible circumstances) in Wisconsin for $300. Puff was at the "rescue" for more than 24 hours before it was believed that she would die if not seen by a vet. Only then did she actually go in and after hearing that she would need surgery, the Director of the "rescue" contacted the Humane Society, asking for the money back. Paris was never seen by a vet in the several months that she was with the "rescue". She was adopted and then taken to the vet to make sure that she was healthy. Other than missing a toe on each foot and being stunted, Paris is now living the Birdie Dream in her new home. She is one of the lucky ones, but her health was never an issue while at the "rescue", even though the "rescue" used her and Puff's story as a fund raiser technique, stating that breeders were at fault for the shape these birds were in when they came to the "rescue" and that they needed incredible amounts of vet care and rehabilitation. The only rehabilitation that happened for either bird was finding the home that they did. The director consistently told anyone who would listen how much she disliked Goffin's Cockatoos and their story was used simply as a ploy to get money from the unsuspecting public.
Amy	This is Amy. Amy came to the "rescue" after it was decided that $700 would be paid (this organization states on its web site that it NEVER purchases birds, not even to save them from horrible circumstances) to the previous owner and pick-up was arranged in Chicago. Amy was at the "rescue" for several months before the Director finally decided that she could go home with her new family. She was never once vet checked the whole time she was at the "rescue" and the primary concern of the adoptor was to get her to the vet because she seemed to be behaving strangely. This is one of the first things that was done after Amy's "adoption" and it was found that her white cell count was so elevated that the vet couldn't believe that she wasn't showing any serious outward appearances of disease. She was treated and is now doing very well.
Drummie	Meet Drumstick, or Drummie, as he was affectionately called. This wonderful Senegal came to board with the "rescue" because his owner had just had brain surgery. After several months with the "rescue", he was given up for adoption without the prior consent of his owners. The Director of the "rescue", lied to volunteers about his whereabouts, stating that he had gone home with his original owners. Staff found out later that he was really adopted and the truth only came out when the Director was trapped in a lie and forced to tell the truth. Drummie's new owner paid $450 for him but ultimately brought him back because Drummie didn't like men and the new owner couldn't handle him. Drummie has now been at the "rescue" for more than a year total. He did have another home in September but the lack of vet records scared away that potential owner. Jennifer Fleishman

1. Make sure that the animal has been vet checked. Ask to see the records. If the rescue cannot provide you with the vet records, walk away. This definitely means that the animal was never vet checked. Especially with parrots, disease can spread easily and by not vet checking, every bird on the premises is at risk for any kind of disease. Remember, tests done on the premise, unless done by a vet, does not constitute a full vet checkup.

2. Ask about quarantine practices. New birds that come into a rescue situation should not be exposed to the current birds there for a minimum of 30 days. During this time, a complete vet check should be done, which includes a blood panel (CBC), a fecal gram stain, and tests for any suspicious diseases such as PBFD, Chlamydia, Psittacosis, and Polyoma. The best quarantine pracitces are separate air space for the new birds in quarantine and the birds who have "passed" quarantine, but even separating them in different rooms and changing clothes and washing hands while going between the two rooms is better than nothing.

3. Does the rescue do boarding as well as rescue? This is an important question because many rescues do. If this is the case, find out if boarders are asked for a vet certificate to make sure that they are healthy before being taken on as boarders. Also find out if the boarders are separated from all other birds or if they are "mixed in" with the rescue birds. Once again, separate air and separate rooms are the best option in a case like this and I would be wary if this were not the case.

4. Does the rescue keep personal birds on site? This is a red flag that will tell a potential adoptor that funds that are coming in to the rescue, especially if it's a certified non-profit, are not going soley to the birds at the rescue but are also being used for personal birds. If this is the case, it should make you question where else funding that comes in is going and make you wary of giving them any of your money.

5. Are there a lot of "permanent residents" on site? If there are, this may be more of a warehouse situation than a rescue and this is definitely also something to look carefully at. A rescue should be adopting out birds rather than keeping them on site on a permanent basis. Most parrots who are given up come from home situations and this is what they've always known. Very few parrots are going to feel comfortable in a loud sanctuary setting. These parrots deserve a home and everything possible should be done to make sure that this is exactly what happens.

These are just a few things that you should look for when considering to get a bird at a rescue, or even if you want to volunteer your time to a rescue. Don't find out too late that you might not have done your homework because I can tell you first hand that it can be absolutely heartbreaking.

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After having worked for 5 years at Ornithology, Bronx Zoo, I saw so many horrible things involving birds.  The bottom line with anything in the pet industry:  money and profit are king.  The reptiles have it worse.

The place looks legit, but I agree with you - without visiting and actually spending time there, there is no way to know for sure if the place is decent.