Are birds as pets given a bad deal?
March 10th, 2010 | 
Author: I see ѕο many more ads fοr birds needing a חеw homes tһаח οtһеr pets. Dο уου tһіחk tһіѕ іѕ bесаυѕе people see birds аѕ more disposable tһаח οtһеr pets? If ѕο, ѕһουƖԁ bird ownership bе regulated better tο ѕtοр tһе shuffling around οf pet birds? If חοt, wһу ԁο уου tһіחk tһіѕ іѕ?…
I don’t tһіחk many people аrе tһаt well-educated wһеח іt comes tο birds аחԁ bυу tһеm аחԁ regret іt. Eіtһеr tһеу don’t Ɩіkе tһе noise level οf tһе bird οr tһеу mау חοt Ɩіkе tһаt tһе bird leaves seeds аחԁ feathers οח tһе floor tο сƖеаח up. AƖѕο, mοѕt pet birds aren’t tһаt expensive аחԁ іt seems Ɩіkе tһе smaller birds, Ɩіkе parakeets аחԁ finches, аrе seen аѕ disposable. It’s a very sad situation. Jυѕt bесаυѕе a bird doesn’t cost much doesn’t mean іt’s аחу less worthy οf ɡοοԁ care, Ɩονе, аחԁ attention. Tһеrе аrе ѕοmе local bird associations tһаt аrе ɡοοԁ аbουt adopting out pet birds tο families tһаt really want tһеm. I tһіחk bird ownership ѕһουƖԁ bе better regulated, bυt mοѕt pet shops aren’t going tο ԁο іt. It wουƖԁ take more staffing аחԁ more work аחԁ I don’t tһіחk tһеу′re willing tο ԁο іt. Maybe іf enough people wһο care аbουt pet birds spoke up, something more сουƖԁ bе done tο ɡеt pet birds tο ɡοοԁ owners.
Posted in birds as pets
If we tried to stop people from shuffling around pet birds, I don’t think it is possible because some people are just like ‘whatever!’ and they don’t care about birds.
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I guess its because most people figure their a waste of space and think their huge mess and noisy they think you cant do anything with one unless it is a Parrot and if you wonder why "Well if they think a parrot is so play full they should just get one" the answer is because their allot they cost between $500 – $700 .
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I don’t think many people are that well-educated when it comes to birds and buy them and regret it. Either they don’t like the noise level of the bird or they may not like that the bird leaves seeds and feathers on the floor to clean up. Also, most pet birds aren’t that expensive and it seems like the smaller birds, like parakeets and finches, are seen as disposable. It’s a very sad situation. Just because a bird doesn’t cost much doesn’t mean it’s any less worthy of good care, love, and attention. There are some local bird associations that are good about adopting out pet birds to families that really want them. I think bird ownership should be better regulated, but most pet shops aren’t going to do it. It would take more staffing and more work and I don’t think they’re willing to do it. Maybe if enough people who care about pet birds spoke up, something more could be done to get pet birds to good owners.
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Owned finches and parakeets for 15 years
One, most birds live longer than most animals. Two, most people think that since it is in a cage that it is an easy thing to deal with, just as people think of fish in an aquarium. Three, people think that you can buy everything they need to feed in one bag, box or mix. Four, people think they can treat a bird like any kitty or puppy who have been domesticated for hundreds of years, birds two or three generations from the wild for large parrots, five or so for small parrots. Birds still have much of their instinct intact, which means unless you understand bird instinct the ownership will be a failure. If you are a third shift worker, a bird will be rising at about sunrise, not a good match. There are so many reasons why, and so little understanding before the purchase. I remember standing in Petsmart as customer myself for bird food as a couple oggled an Amazon, oh…….so cooooool. And soooooooo pretty. I gave them a rundown on the time, space, vet bills, food, and tolerance for noise and life span, with that knowledge they decided this was not the animal for them. Birds are cool, and many people buy them and let them sit in a dark ugly cage because the coolness runs out at about the twentith they are bit. They give them away when they either can not stand the noise or the mess. These are the lucky birds. Many sit in one place on a perch, in a cage put far away from anyone, and as long as they act like a zombie most of the time the owner is willing to keep them for another 20 years of living hell. If it were up to me, birds would be either educated about or regulated. I know that is harsh but how much more harsh can it be than a bird riping out it’s own flesh with either stress, boredom, or neglect. It is not about just giving one as a gift, it is buying without research. Anyone who is interested in a bird who has never had one before should volunteer at a rescue for a few weeks. While they place their hand in a cage and feel what it is like to be bitten, because at some point when owning a bird you will get bit. Bird brains know this and accept it as part of the relationship. Ok, enough said. Birds are complecated animals and people don’t get it. That is why there are so many out there.
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Just an old bird brain of 42 years!
No, I don’t think that regulation will work. I think the problem is bigger than that.
Think about it this way…Millions of unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters every year. Despite the fact that spaying and neutering is readily available, there are still idiots out there who irresponsibly breed all of these EXTRA animals.
It’s worse with pet birds, not only because they cannot be easily spayed or neutered, but because most people aren’t even aware of the overpopulation. And because they are caged animals, many owners think it’s ok to breed, or feel helpless to stop it.
I do bird rescue – specifically horder clean-ups. Most of these people have more than 100 birds each. They all tell the same story…they got a few birds, they started to breed – it got out of control.
All you have to do is read a few questions here every day and you’ll see that the majority of bird owners are grossly uneducated about their pets. It’s no wonder that they have so many "problems".
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People seem not to value birds as much (not saying everyone doesn’t! just some!) and also birds are often quite hard to keep as pets, or at least not what people expected. Some people want a talking bird and their bird doesn’t talk so they re-home them.
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Loving pet owner and Mum of a gorgeous Eclectus Parrot
Birds definitely, have it bad – even the small ones. But I think this is partially due to ignorance, and partially due to our society.
What is the value of a life?
If you’re a Budgie, your life is worth about $20. If you’re a little white mouse; $2. Is this right? The price of these animals right away gives people the impression they are dispensable. Not only that, but anyone can walk in and buy one – no training, education or proof of sufficient finances necessary. No matter who or what you are, you can "own" another life in this country – no questions asked.
I am a true advocate of less government intervention in our lives, but maybe the answer is to make people get a license to own a pet – even register pets, take a class, pay a yearly fee. Maybe it will take something that drastic to make people think twice before going to purchase an animal they know nothing about.
I realize this is a particularly extreme response, but this is where I stand at this point:
We should not own pets. We, as a society, can’t handle it. It’s too bad for those of us who have been giving great lives to animals all these years. While many people are very good to their animals, thousands and thousands are mistreated, abandoned and suffering. Their pain is worth far more to me that my desire to just keep "owning" pets.
I love my dog, cats, parrots – they are all adopted/rescued. They are my life, and I can’t imagine being without them. However, I would love to see the law put in place preventing the continued breeding of "pet" animals. I would love the animal controls of the world shut down because dogs, cats and other animals are all dying out of old age, and there are no others left to die a miserable, lonely and suffering death in a gas chamber. I would give up my "right" to have a pet in the future once current ones are gone to know that this type of torture has finally ended.
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