Macaw in pet store

[basia]

well I just wanted to share my experience.I was in the store to get some supplies for my baby,and I was walking through the store when I saw this beautiful buffwing macaw. Of course me being the crazy parrot lady I walked over to interact with it. I noticed that he/she was very quiet and puffed up ,getting slightly worried I looked at its droppings,they were very liquidy and had a reddish colour.Trying to talk and interact wih the creature, it did not react to anything.I knew this wasnt good I felt like i couldn`t just leave the poor thing alone(and i definetely couldn't buy it ) So i walked over to one of the workers around the parrots and told them that i didnt think that this parrot was healthy at all and how often (if) they have their birds vet checked because this parrot definetely was far from healthy ( I'm 99 % sure it was sick). The lady politely told me to wait for a second and she came out with the manager of the store. Then the manager told me something like this "ma'am I assure you that all our animals are in perfect health and that we have a completely trustworthy veterinarian in stores for all our species of animals." Me being the stubborn one said may you please prove to me that you have such a veterinarian and of course he said "we cannot release the identity of our privately employed veterinarians but as i said before all our animals are healthy ,is there anything else i can help you with? I felt hopeless and awful there was nothing i could do to help this emotionally and physically unhealthy beautiful intelligent creature. At least the second time i came around to the cage she or he started talking she actually started looking at me and sorta peeping and making noises . Then as i was getting ready to leave ( cause i wasnt buying anything here) a young couple came in front of the cage and wadda ya know they were all like aww its so cute and pretty i want one , we can put it in that empty corner and watch it ( thats litterally what they said!) (in my mind there is so many things wrong with this im not gonna even bother to explain) I was so angry i just left and of course didnt buy anything .i feel so horrible for that macaw i feel so bad i tried to help her as much as i could but no matter what i always feel like i should have done more i cant think of anything i could have done .I really hate seeing birds in the pet store because i know they are not treated with the respect they should be this makes me really sad

 

[JerseyWendy]

Oh that is just terrible! The poor, poor bird. Are there perhaps any agencies in Canada that you could contact about the health of the Macaw? Or the Better Business Bureau? I'm wrecking my brain here....trying to think of something, but right this moment I'm having a major brain fart because I can vividly just picture this poor, sick bird sitting there all neglected and ill.

As for the people who made that comment? GRRRR!!!! I saw ruby red when I read that. It's a SHAME people such as this are even allowed to buy any living creature.

 

[basia]

Oh that is just terrible! The poor, poor bird. Are there perhaps any agencies in Canada that you could contact about the health of the Macaw? Or the Better Business Bureau? I'm wrecking my brain here....trying to think of something, but right this moment I'm having a major brain fart because I can vividly just picture this poor, sick bird sitting there all neglected and ill.

As for the people who made that comment? GRRRR!!!! I saw ruby red when I read that. It's a SHAME people such as this are even allowed to buy any living creature.

as for agencies I can`t really find one that takes care of birds primarily but I could always see if general animal help agencies will help.

 

[plax]

as for agencies I can`t really find one that takes care of birds primarily but I could always see if general animal help agencies will help.

That poor parrot! The manager's response to you was truly egregious!! If I were you (and if the store isn't far from your home), I would check back in a day or two to see if the bird's state has improved, declined, or remained the same. Especially take note of the state of its droppings and the cleanliness and quantity of its food and water. And during your visit you will of course learn whether the bird is still fluffed up and listless.

While I'm unfamiliar with animal protection laws and reporting procedures in Canada, I did a quick search and the following site came up:

CFHS | Animal cruelty: how to report it

It's not specific to pet birds, but it does state:

Domestic animal cruelty or neglect

If you’ve witnessed an act of animal cruelty or neglect, please call your local SPCA… or humane society and speak to the Animal Cruelty Investigations department.

If there is no local SPCA… or humane society where you live, call the provincial SPCA… or contact the police.

This site came up as well:


Animal Abuse Database - Search Results | Pet-Abuse.Com Animal Cruelty Database


It appears to be an animal abuse reporting site. You could state to the manager that if the bird is not afforded appropriate veterinary care and you are not able to speak to the attending veterinarian, you are prepared to report the store and the circumstances surrounding the bird to authorities and to the media. And you can certainly follow through with that promise! A local television station news department may be just the thing. You might also mention that you intend to post the situation as a case of animal abuse on the above website (or another one, should you locate a more appropriate site). The manager should wish to avoid negative publicity and may change his attitude.

Also, when you next visit the store, take note of what the Macaw is eating. If it's eating the color-dyed fruit blend type pellets, that could very well account for some of the coloring in its feces. Certainly see if they've made any changes at all in response to your initial showing of concern.


If I can think of anything else I'll post back.

 

[MeganMango]

Im not sure where you are in Canada, but each province has its own laws. The laws in Ontario are stringent, but are no enforced at all. Its pathetic. Your best bet there is the local SPCA. Im living in Alberta at the moment though, and you can actually call the police if you feel an animal is being neglected or abused, and they will follow up. Once a complaint has been made the pet store will be regularly investigated. This is probably your best course of action. Buying the bird will just provide a profit and make room for another poor animal. The best way to prevent this is to have these places investigated regularly and have them charged steeply when they abuse or neglect an animal. They will quickly stop selling them as it will be too much of a bother. I personally refuse to give my business to ANY pet store that sells animals. If I walk into a store and there are animals, I tell the manager personally that I wont be spending any money there until they stop selling animals. I also tell the stores that I do visit, that I will continue to do so provided they do not sell any animals in-store. I also encourage them to advertise for rescues and shelters.

 

[Birdlover11]

Stories like that make me want to strangle pet store employes . I had an experience like that too. I am a betta fish fantic I used to own and breed them. I usually buy them from petco. So I had a sick female betta fish. I had medicines but none of them worked so I went crying with my dad to petco because I had a special feeling she might not make it through the night ( I am very attached to all of my pets) I went to petco my eyes all puffy and looked at the aisle, I found out I had all of the same medicines . I then asked a petco employee and asked him if they had anything for bacterial infections ( I diagnosed her myself and was very sure ) he said we only have one which I told him I already have. I brought shimmer with me ( I know , I know ) and he asked if he could see her. She was floating at the bottom, rising only for gulps of air. I told him she has a infection , I also said she doesn't eat anything. He said " oh, she's sick because she's starving" then I said she was eating fine then stopped . I told him what food I gave him, the he said " female betta fish need special food that can fit their mouths, it couldn't fit anymore " that doesn't make any sense . He then said " she isn't sick " I knew he wouldn't believe me because who would you rather believe, a petstore employee or a puffy eyed. 11 year old ? He gave me the " special " food and went home . Put the food in thier and she just floated, looking into space.She died 2 days later. I never take advice from petco anymore.

 

[MonicaMc]

By chance, could the reddish droppings be from diet? Such as red pellets, or red fruits and vegetables? Blood in droppings typically isn't red unless there is bleeding around the vent area, and then it's typically noticeable

Droppings that are very liquidy could be a sign of infections, bad organs, a high fresh food diet or even stress.

Could the macaw have been tired and sleepy so was puffed up and quiet?



I'm not trying to stick up for the pet store, if the bird is in fact sick, just trying to think of some possible reasons why the bird appeared the way it did. Maybe going at a different time of day and finding out what the birds diet is, how old it is, and perhaps what they test for disease wise?

 

[Blue]

Lack of vet care is considered abuse/neglect so if the bird is sick and not being treated reporting it to the proper authorities is the right thing to do

 

[plax]

I'm not trying to stick up for the pet store, if the bird is in fact sick, just trying to think of some possible reasons why the bird appeared the way it did.

Your questions are reasonable. That's why I as well mentioned the dyes in colored fruit pellets as a possible explanation for the reddish feces.

Maybe going at a different time of day and finding out what the birds diet is, how old it is, and perhaps what they test for disease wise?

I tend to agree that's worth trying. Except it sounds like the manager isn't overly willing to provide any specific health details about the bird - unless of course he's pressured into doing so. But revisiting the bird is a good idea, as I've also recommended. She could check on the food type and the food/water freshness, as well as the appearance of the droppings again. And making the next visit at a different time of the day (as you've suggested) makes sense to determine whether or not the bird seems consistently puffed up and listless. I think those steps are a reasonable starting point.

 

[basia]

Stories like that make me want to strangle pet store employes . I had an experience like that too. I am a betta fish fantic I used to own and breed them. I usually buy them from petco. So I had a sick female betta fish. I had medicines but none of them worked so I went crying with my dad to petco because I had a special feeling she might not make it through the night ( I am very attached to all of my pets) I went to petco my eyes all puffy and looked at the aisle, I found out I had all of the same medicines . I then asked a petco employee and asked him if they had anything for bacterial infections ( I diagnosed her myself and was very sure ) he said we only have one which I told him I already have. I brought shimmer with me ( I know , I know ) and he asked if he could see her. She was floating at the bottom, rising only for gulps of air. I told him she has a infection , I also said she doesn't eat anything. He said " oh, she's sick because she's starving" then I said she was eating fine then stopped . I told him what food I gave him, the he said " female betta fish need special food that can fit their mouths, it couldn't fit anymore " that doesn't make any sense . He then said " she isn't sick " I knew he wouldn't believe me because who would you rather believe, a petstore employee or a puffy eyed. 11 year old ? He gave me the " special " food and went home . Put the food in thier and she just floated, looking into space.She died 2 days later. I never take advice from petco anymore.

aw that is just horrible ! Im sure Shimmer was very happy with a very caring person like you !

 

[basia]

By chance, could the reddish droppings be from diet? Such as red pellets, or red fruits and vegetables? Blood in droppings typically isn't red unless there is bleeding around the vent area, and then it's typically noticeable

Droppings that are very liquidy could be a sign of infections, bad organs, a high fresh food diet or even stress.

Could the macaw have been tired and sleepy so was puffed up and quiet?



I'm not trying to stick up for the pet store, if the bird is in fact sick, just trying to think of some possible reasons why the bird appeared the way it did. Maybe going at a different time of day and finding out what the birds diet is, how old it is, and perhaps what they test for disease wise?

well about the colour of the droppings the bird was not eating any coloured pellets ,and about the liquidy droppings when i was there there were no fresh foods at all ,but that doesn't necessarily mean it wasnt there before and about the tiredness....sorry if i sound like a crazy weird person but i have had a sick bird before (that passed away) and I find that birds almost look different when they are just tired and sleeping than when they are sick ...do I sound crazy ? I probably do but thats just my opinion.

 

[happycat]

That's awful! That made me want to cry. Poor thing! I hope they didn't get him...

We went to a bird/fish store and there were conjures, budgies, an Amazon and a Macaw. The budgies were in an O.K. sized Cage but everyone was poking at them. The conure had one toy, one perch in a tiny cage and just stood on the perches sadly. The bigger birds were much worse. The Amazon was dirty in a very dirty, tiny cage. It looked ruffled and not in good condition. The macaw made me want to cry.It was in a super tiny cage. Hardly big enough for it. There was one perch in the cage and the
cage was very rusty. He was just sadly gnawing at the side of the car. I Wish I had done something to help.
(Sorry if things are misspelt. I'm on a phone and there's autocorrect

 

[suncon97]

That is so sad you did the right thing even though the ignorant manager was unwilling to take advice. I can't stand to see birds cared for(if you can call it that at a pet store) incorrectly.

 

[plax]

Again, I would go back to check on the Macaw. If evidence of poor care and terrible conditions continues to be present, and if the bird still appears sickly, contact your local SPCA chapter. If there is no local SPCA chapter serving your area contact the provincial SPCA office.

Optionally, you can use the threat of reporting the store. That may hopefully compel the manager to provide proper care and attention to this particular bird - it would however not give assurance that he would continue to furnish such care (for other birds, etc.).

And then, as I mentioned previously, there's the media approach. Our local television news departments love to investigate reports of animal abuse and cruelty.

Some combination of the above is what I would do. So at least consider these steps (and perhaps check further into your options). And at the very least please return to the store sometime soon to check on this poor bird's well-being.

Let us know what you've learned and how things turn out.

 

[basia]

That's awful! That made me want to cry. Poor thing! I hope they didn't get him...

We went to a bird/fish store and there were conjures, budgies, an Amazon and a Macaw. The budgies were in an O.K. sized Cage but everyone was poking at them. The conure had one toy, one perch in a tiny cage and just stood on the perches sadly. The bigger birds were much worse. The Amazon was dirty in a very dirty, tiny cage. It looked ruffled and not in good condition. The macaw made me want to cry.It was in a super tiny cage. Hardly big enough for it. There was one perch in the cage and the
cage was very rusty. He was just sadly gnawing at the side of the car. I Wish I had done something to help.
(Sorry if things are misspelt. I'm on a phone and there's autocorrect

thats awful I hate it when pet stores have live animals

 

[Remy]

Poor bird. I would definitely go back and check on it, and speak with the manager again. Also, try to take some pictures of the bird. I'm sure they won't appreciate it, but who cares? They are not doing their job, and somebody (the bird) is paying a large price.

Is it a big brand pet store? Either way, I think the idea of threatening with media coverage (hence the pictures) is a good idea, if they don't get things straightened out. And follow through if they don't shape up!

 

[MonicaMc]

Plax, I didn't read your entire message. Guess we're on the same thought process.


I know that situations are not always as they appear. I hope this is the case, and the bird is fine, but likewise, I would be interested in hearing a followup on the bird. If the bird really is not feeling well, then vet care would be essential for him or her.

 

[basia]

Sorry i would have replied earlier but I was extremely busy but i went to go visit the bird again but only to find out that he or she was bought or relocated...they had other birds and they looked in relatively good health nothing as alarming as what i saw before ...but i went up to the mnager and told him that next time something like this happened i would be contacting agencies that will help and the media and he was alarmed by this and he said no need to that madam we assure you there will never be the circumstances to do that ......or something like that ....poor bird !!!!!! i hate pet stores with live animals