Have to Rant/Vent...I'm so Angry!!!

[Amanda_Bennett]

I got a call last night from Zilla's previous owner. It started out as a nice "just checking up on how she is doing call" Then went all crazy...

him... so just thought I would call and see how he (they still insist she is a he) is doing?

me... She is a trooper, seems to be responding well, eating good.

him... So I understand you aren't giving him his favorite things...

me... If you mean coffee, pepsi and such then no I'm not, that's part of what has cause her health problems..that stuff isn't good for birds.

him... we've had lots of birds that have lived into their late 30's and early 40's and they all got those things..they love that stuff.

me...Oh? what kinds of birds were they? I didn't know you had other birds besides the B&G you sold, the 4 tiels you still have, and Zilla.

him... oh we've had 5 or 6 macaws, several african greys, a couple amazons, the tiels and a few others.

me... so you've had birds that notoriously live into their 50's 60's and even 70's with proper care and diets? And they only live into their 30's and 40's?

him... birds don't live that long, I don't know where you got that information but you can't really believe that.

me... I do happen to know they live that long for a fact, I had a CAG that was in his mid 50's when I got him and he was about 59 when he passed.

him... you were lied to about his age he couldn't have been that old.

me... OK, I'm not gonna argue with you.

him... there was another reason I called tonight...

me... what reason is that?

him... well, a guy who looked at woody (that's what they called Zilla) a few months ago called today and really wants him, says he has the money now, so I think we need to get him back so we can sell him...

me... NO WAY, Zilla is mine and she isn't going anywhere!

him... well when we gave him to Jerame (they guy I got her from) he promised if he wasn't going to keep him he would give him back to us not give him away to someone else.

me... well you knew the day he gave her to me, you said you were happy she had a good home and I was taking care of her.

him... well that was before we found out this guy was going to have the money to buy him.

me... sorry, you can't have her back, she is staying here with me!

him... I really don't think you are caring for him properly, and this guy wants him and he says he will keep him on the diet we have had him on, so I think he is the best option.

me...I said NO, you will NOT be getting her back, she is MINE!!!

him... we will get a lawyer if we have to, he is our bird and should not have been given to you in the first place.

me... Go get your lawyer, I have a document in my possession, in your wife's handwriting giving me all her vet records. It has a date, my name, your and your wife's name, address, phone number and signature. There is a witness who watched your wife write the document, and also the vet who called to verify your wife wrote it and wanted to release the records to her new owner, ME.

him... I'm not joking, we will get our lawyer involved and we will get him back.

me... go for it, I will get my lawyer involved and you will pay his fees on top of your own lawyers fees when I win.

him... expect to hear from my lawyer soon.

and he hung up!

I'm not afraid of losing her, I do have all the documentation and witnesses, I just can't believe he would even have the nerve to call and have that conversation with me! WTH!!!

I have been so PO'd I hardly slept and can't concentrate on work this morning!!!

Sorry for the long post, but I know you guys will understand my anger and %&^$#@*&^ how could he even have the nerve to call me and say that crap!!!!

 

[Birdman666]

Fine - when you pay me the $$$$$ (well in excess of the present offer, no doubt) i have spent in vet bills because you didn't feed this bird correctly... We can discuss it.

How quickly would there be a click on the other end of the line?!

Ditto the guy who wants to buy the bird, well the bird IS sick... and the vet bills have been pretty high....

END OF NONSENSE!

SCREW THEM... Do what's right for the bird!

 

[JerseyWendy]

What nerve!

Wow, Amanda, hats off to you, I would have totally lost my cool - no doubt about it. You handled this SUPERBLY!

HUGS!!! And some more....I think you need them.

 

[RavensGryf]

That is absolutely RIDICULOUS is all I can say! I mean, who does/says that?!!

I understand your anger. Don't worry about the lawyer, you have the paperwork. Goes to show how we NEED signed documents for everything these days! Wow. Unbelievable.

 

[Dopey]

I am so sorry you are going through this. I'm glad that you have all the documents. Hang in there. I know the phone call was upsetting but your bird has the best mommy caring for her.

And seriously - since when has coffee and pepsi been good for anyone or anything?

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

I knew you guys would TOTALLY understand!!!

I will fight with everything I have to keep her here!

I will get a lawyer if I have to! I seriously doubt it will come to that. I think he was just trying to "bully" me and scare me into thinking he had some sort of leverage, but I know he doesn't and I have the documentation and witnesses.

I just had to vent about it all. I haven't been this disgusted or angry in years!

 

[Agapornis]

That guy is an idiot, and i'm sure he was just bluffing about the lawyer. His greed was seeing dollar signs. You have the paperwork, so you are in the clear. You handled the situation just right!

Coffee and Pepsi??? what kind of moron thinks that is good for any animal????

 

[Kiwibird]

Amount of money to hire a lawyer and take this to small claims court (with you countersuing for vet bills of course) is going to be FAR more than a 28 year old SICK OWA is "worth".

You're 100% right- Zilla is your beautiful girl now, and he was just talking out him butt about getting a lawyer...

One more thing, I'm sure the AV would be happy to back you up in court about how pepsi and junk food is not an appropriate diet for a parrot and caused her health problems, no matter how much he wants to claim it doesnt (and he's not going to find a vet on the planet to back him up!).

 

[Sunset_Chaser]

It takes all kinds that's for sure! Glad Zilla found a good home with you as her previous owner sounds like he doesn't know much about birds and their care at all!

 

[LeaKP]

Oh my my blood pressure is rising! I am so sorry! Zilla obviously was saved by coming to you. Stand strong...proud of how you've taken care of Zilla!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

That makes me pissed off too D: How long have you had zilla?

Please be careful, do they know were you live? make sure they aren't going to steal her. And also get vet records showing her bad health and how much you paid to restore her. If possible get your avian vet involved and start recording your phone calls with the owner(don't tell her)

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

I'm just so VERY ANGRY!

I'm not worried at all about him getting a lawyer, even if he does, no one in their right mind would give her back to him, AND I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION to prove she is mine and they knew I had her from day 1.

As Kiwibird said I'm sure my vet would stand behind me and verify everything.

I'm mostly just PO'd that he would even think he could bully me like that! And money means more than a happy healthy bird to him!!!

I feel sorry for the other birds (if he ever really had them) and the short lives and pain and suffering they went through. And the 4 tiels he still has! I wish there was a way to get them away from him before he does irreparable damage to them, but technically he isn't abusing them.

 

[SilverSage]

Get a lawyer right away, get your vet on your side attesting to the need for proper diet, and GO TO WAR. *fumes*

(Oh and I agree about recording the calls!)

 

[Scott]

It seems Zilla's former owner is the avian mirror image to Mama June of "Here comes Honey Boo Boo" infamy.

They have perjured themselves and proven to be abject imbeciles totally unworthy of your consideration. You have enough to deal with accommodating their horrific and incompetent "caring" for Zilla and should cease all discussion. Try to "block" their incoming call, and if not possible, do not answer or screen with an answering machine.

If they persist, allow your lawyer to do the talking, armed with expert testimony in the form of lab tests and your vet.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

That makes me pissed off too D: How long have you had zilla?

Please be careful, do they know were you live? make sure they aren't going to steal her. And also get vet records showing her bad health and how much you paid to restore her. If possible get your avian vet involved and start recording your phone calls with the owner(don't tell her)

Ive had her since Sept. 24th and NO they do NOT know where I live. I also work from an office attached to my living room, so I am home 90% or more of the time. I have all her vet records from the time I have had her and the vet records for the last 2 years they had her. I also have several witnesses to the fact they knew I had her and had even said they were happy I had her and was taking care of her.

Both my vet and their vet also documented her band number to verify it is the same bird, so I have that too. My vet scanned for a micro chip the first time I took her in, but she doesn't have one.

Their downfall will be the document they wrote in their own handwriting with a date, my FULL name, and their names and address and phone number on it releasing all her vet records to her NEW OWNER. Their vet even called them to make sure they really wrote the document before she would release the records to me!

I have both their numbers programmed into my phone and I don't plan on answering any more calls from them. They can leave a message and then I will have it recorded.

I seriously doubt this will go any further. Their craigslist add was offering her with her cage and toys for $400.00 or best offer. It wouldn't be worth it to them to spend money on a lawyer, have to pay me what I have spent on vet bills, her new cage etc...

And I'm sure even if they do have a buyer he won't want to wait around to see if they get her back, he will move on to some other bird he finds on craigslist. And if he finds out she is ill and the vet bills are LARGE he will walk away.

 

[Anansi]

Wow. What a winning combination! Ignorance of truly epic proportions wrapped in equal parts moral bankruptcy and blind avarice. Every parrot's dream person. Smh.

I'm so glad Zilla is no longer with that idiot.

 

[getwozzy]

Holy what in the world [emoji33][emoji33][emoji33] that guy has some nerve trying to take Zilla back just to re-sell her [emoji35][emoji35][emoji35][emoji35]

It's a good thing you have documentation and went through all those steps with the vets...

"Not giving her the things she loves" HMPH!!!! That guy can take all those things and shove it!

I wouldn't even worry about this idiot- there's no way a judge in their right mind would allow him to have Zilla back...and it's a good thing he doesn't know where you live!!!

Ugh!!! Some people!!!!! [emoji35][emoji35][emoji35][emoji35][emoji35]

 

[veimar]

O.M.G!!! Just cannot believe how calm you stayed talking with this idiot! And he had a nerve to demand his bird back! :11: You should contact authorities about this guy and report him mistreating his birds.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

O.M.G!!! Just cannot believe how calm you stayed talking with this idiot! And he had a nerve to demand his bird back! :11: You should contact authorities about this guy and report him mistreating his birds.

Oh, I never said I stayed calm!!!! :54:

I had to leave my living room and go shut myself in the bedroom! He called after 8:30pm and Zilla puts herself to bed by 6:30pm and is covered by 7:00pm. I try not to disturb her too much since she hasn't been feeling well and these meds make her bit grouchy

My voice was raised and I'm sure I didn't get the whole conversation in my post word for word :54:, just the basics I could remember after a night of not sleeping and being "fuming" mad I'm sure there were some "not so nice" words that came out of my mouth at him in a very LOUD voice!

I would love nothing more than to have the authorities be able to do something to save the birds he still has, but unfortunately what he is doing isn't considered "abuse", he isn't starving them or hitting them.

 

[veimar]

Isn't an abuse feeding crap to them and making them sick?