Would you allow someone like me to adopt your bird?

[Alienation]

I found someone on another forum who needs to rehome their 12 month old Yellow Crowned Amazon due to financial complications (among other things). I don't know of their asking price yet, but I thought perhaps I could offer this bird a home, instead of buying a baby from a breeder. Would you bird lovers be willing to adopt your beloved fids (if you had to of course) to someone like myself? I know personally I'd be VERY picky rehoming a pet, and this person seems to be as they have turned down everyone else so far...

This is the email I sent:

"I just found your ad on petpages.com I believe. I have been avidly researching birds and their care for the past 8 months, have fully immersed myself in the aviculture community (am a member of several forums) and I am absolutely in love with amazons. I have been planning on buying/adopting a blue-fronted amazon from a breeder. Is there any way you would consider freighting Sundance? (as I live in Melbourne and I don't know when I would be able to drive up - if at all). I already have a fantastic play stand that I built (happy to show you photos!) and a sleep cage, and will be building an aviary where he/she could spend his/her time when I am not home (I have been planning on bringing a bird into my life for ages!). I'd love a companion parrot to spend my time with and I would love him/her more than anything. I have studied a lot of parrot training and am really interested in psychology (I plan on either becoming a psychologist or an animal behaviourist later in life). I must admit, I have not personally owned a bird before, but I have lots of experience playing with my friend's and boyfriend's birds and I have done very thorough research. If you do not feel comfortable selling your bird to someone without experience though, I understand, but I can assure you, this bird would be so loved. My boyfriend's parents used to own an amazon (had to rehome it when they moved from Scottland to Australia), so they would be more than willing to help me if I needed it. I have located two certified avian vets nearby and I am prepared to pay for any vet costs required, and anything else along the way. How much are you wanting to sell Sundance for? I hope you will at least consider me, but I understand if you are put off by my young age and lack of experience. Thanks for reading. If you decide against me, then I hope you find a wonderful home for your baby. "

 

[Alienation]

Just realised I should have offered to give them a reference from the veterinary clinic I used to work at... Darn.

 

[Von1983]

How far would the bird have to travel.....?

I can't imagine ever rehoming a pet so it's difficult for me to put myself in their shoes. My suspicion would be they'd be looking for ease despite what they might say and probably would prefer collection from someone nearby.

I could be wrong, but I think that's probably going to be their first thought.

The right bird will come up for you, whether it's this or another!

 

[Alienation]

The bird would be coming from Sydney, which would only be a 4 hour flight at most (if that even!), but I just realised I could probably fly up to meet it beforehand as flights only cost about $40 at the moment.
In their ad they mentioned though that they'd be coming to live in Melbourne (where I live) to stay for a couple of months. What they didn't mention was whether they wanted to rehome the bird before then or not...

I had to rehome my rats unfortunately which was heartbreaking. Luckily I knew a wonderful person already who was willing to take them and find them new homes. If I hadn't known her it would have been so difficult deciding on who could adopt them.

 

[Alienation]

Correction: A flight from Melbourne to Sydney is less than two hours apparently.

 

[Von1983]

Alien world to me!

I think it's because freighting pets isn't really done in the UK....we just sort of go where we can physically!

I'm probably not the best person to be replying hahaha!

Sorry for your rats

Sometimes it can't be helped, I know. People's circumstances change without warning sometimes which is why I don't judge until I know the story behind the rehoming. Trouble is I suspect a lot of the time here when I hear of these things it isn't always the complete truth.

We went to a rescue centre for a companion for Olly before we had Boots and met a couple in the car park. They'd got a biiiig chocolate brown lab cross who they told us they'd had over night on trial. The woman said he'd bitten her arms in a puppy like way because he'd had NO training from his previous home and they felt they couldn't handle him. He wasn't a puppy, he was nearly 10st of grown dog, bless him.

When I expressed my sympathy for the poor dog who was going to need a VERY special guardian to take care of him, to a lady who worked at the centre, she told me the people had said their daughter was scared of him because he was so big! WHY lie? It just means the poor dog will be shoved from pillar to post again and again!

Sorry for the rant, but this is why I don't always trust what private ads say. If someone would lie when the dog wasn't even theirs and they weren't rehoming it, just deciding it wasn't for them, then what on earth will people say when money is involved??

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if they are happy to deliver or frieght him, then yep, I DO think it'd be good for you to be able to fly up to see the bird first, just so you aren't given the run around or disappointed.

 

[Alienation]

Thanks for the response Von =]

I've never freighted a pet or had one freighted to me, but it seems to happen often in Australia with the rare birds such as macaws, amazons and greys because there just aren't enough breeders around.

I'm not so concerned about the person's reason for rehoming, as I know they are a trusted and respected member of the forum. They also went into great detail about their situation and reason for rehoming and are being very selective about who they rehome to, which suggests to me they really do care for this bird and it is just an unfortunate occurrence. The woman's husband has just lost his job and her salary alone is not enough to support them and their bird. Sometimes things happen and you can't do anything about it. I know I often am quick to judge too, despite the fact that I have personally been in the situation of having a genuine reason for rehoming (rather than just "got sick of it" or similar). It would be disappointing to fly to Sydney only to have them decide they don't want to sell their bird to me.

 

[Von1983]

I wish you luck with this then! I just have seen so many people disappointed having made long journeys.....I worry for you all because it's so different here. Fortunately (though in the bigger picture VERY unfortunately, too many breeders) you never have to go too far. There are so many ads and rehomings. It's never for me to judge the reasons for rehoming, but after the incident at the dog centre I realised people seem to find it easier to fib than tell the whole truth. It just helps when you know what you're dealing with - makes me cross! I guess it's so commonplace here because there are so many, it's almost like a competition which makes me so sad.

 

[Alienation]

Thanks =]

It is true that people will often lie because they think that will make it easier to rehome the pet, but in the end it's not a good idea.

Most of the birds in rescues here are cockatoos of some variety or other. It is very rare to see Greys, Amazons and Macaws being rehomed. I suppose this is because a) they are rare here and b) people who do go out of their way to buy them have probably researched and planned - you can't just walk into a pet shop and impulse buy these birds. Not usually anyway. Cockatoos on the other hand are available in abundance (as they are native) and are pretty cheap (you can get a galah or sulfur crested for as little as $50-$100 here). Conures get rehomed a lot here too, and IRNs, 'tiels and Eckies.

 

[Von1983]

It's all types of bird here. It FEELS like because we're in a recession, SOME people have decided they can sell their birds instead of the flat screen....you know?


Funnily enough, sun conures are very rarely up for adoption here as there doesn't appear to be many around. The only ones you can get are to buy and it's rare! I travelled a 5 hr round trip for my girl.

It is mainly amazons </3 then TAG's. Conures of other types like GCC or maroon bellies and a lot of smaller birds.

 

[Alienation]

I think sun conures are more commonly available here than green cheeks - at least that's what the rehoming ads are. Conures don't seem to be available in pet shops much, but there are lots of breeders, so I'm not really sure why that is.


Also, I recieved a reply from the lady. She seems very keen on me and wants to meet via skype. She said she is coming down to Melbourne in January (hopefully) and if we determine that he is the right bird for me she is happy to bring him down with her rather than rehome him before they move. I sent her an essay sized email in reply, so let's keep our fingers crossed!

 

[SharonC]

Good luck!

 

[Alienation]

Thanks Sharon =]

 

[Von1983]

I am crossing my fingers for you and am glad that it sounds as if it will work out!

 

[Alienation]

Well she says I sound perfect, like the person they have been looking for. Some direct quotes:
"i really feel excited about you...!"
"i really hope you are our answer to prayer for him!"
"if you are keen lets talk tomorrow....i would love to ring the people booked to come and see him, and say he's got a new home"

So if we can negotiate price, I think it's going to happen =]
Trying not to get excited in case it falls through, but I can't help it!

 

[SharonC]

I'm getting a really good feeling about this!

 

[Von1983]

Exciting news indeed!

We're feeling your excitement! Crossing everything for you, you've waited a long time for a fid!

 

[Alienation]

Me too, Sharon, but I really don't want to get my hopes up too much! Although, if I don't get this guy I will still get one from a breeder, but it'd just be nice to be able to give him a home and from the description I've been given he sounds like such a wonderful bird.

Thanks Von, keep everything crossed and hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to tell you good news! (She's going to call me tomorrow night)

 

[Chris Winkler]

Awesome news! Looking forward to pics when he arrives to his forever home!

 

[Von1983]

I will be waiting with baited breath to find out the result!!!!