Now for Adoption! Memphis, female Cockatiel

Memphis is a female Cockatiel of approximately 5 years of age.  She was a hand-raised, hand-fed baby.

Once she is ready, she will step up onto your finger from the doorway of the cage, or from the top.  And she can not turn away from "bling" (jewelry), she just HAS to play with the bling.  The bling is also the fastest way to coax her onto your finger!

She will also ride around on your shoulder, and occasionally your head.  She is a bit of a lazy bird, she just likes to sit back and watch the action and entertainment.  LOL

Memphis is the bonded mate of Odie, a male Cockatiel.  The two must be adopted with and stay together.  Memphis' adoption fee is $ 40.  For an additional donation fee of $ 20, SMCPR will provide you with an appropriate cage, perches, feed and water dishes, and one toy.

Now for Adoption! Odie, male Cockatiel

Odie is a male Cockatiel of unknown age.  We are assuming he is a geriatric.  He has been twice rescued, that we know of.  Echo was the second to rescue him.  He had originally been rescued by a lady, who saved him from a neglectful state.  Echo then offered to take him in when she could no longer care for him.  He is currently in his foster home in Olympia, WA.

He loves to sit and watch you, usually from the side of the cage, or the top of the cage.  When he decides that you are safe and worthy, he will fly to your shoulder. 

When he's in the mood, he will even step up for you, even if he likes to hiss while he's doing it.

Odie also loves to spread his wings out in a heart shape as he serenades you with his song.  We're still trying  figure out what he's singing, but its beautiful to listen to.

He is a bonded mate with Memphis, a female Cockatiel.  They must be adopted with and stay with each other.  He does suffer from Cockatiel Night Frights, so there must be a soft light available where he sleeps at night or he gets scared.  He is a very picky eater, no matter what we do or try, and as a result tends to have a slight nutritional deficiency (causing occasion star-gazing) even with vitamin supplements on a daily basis.  

Due to us now knowing Odie's age, and deducting he is most likely geriatric due to behavior, we have reduced his adoption fee to $ 20.00 (from $ 40.00).  For an additional donation fee of $ 20, SMCPR would supply an appropriate cage, feed & water dishes, perches, and a toy.

SMCPR Foster Darrian, Duskey Headed Conure

Darrian is a 6 year old Duskey Headed Conure, who is the bonded hatch-ling mate of Dory.  He came to us with Dory after their previous owner's knew they couldn't give them everything they deserved because their work schedules had changed so drastically.  Hence, Darrian and Dory arrived to us in February 2010.

Darrian has always been a well mannered prince.  He carries himself and behaves as though he is an aristocrat!  He seems to be a bit of a late bloomer, as his hormones going wonky on him didn't hit until end of summer.  After trimming his wings to help with the hormones, he is back to normal.  Thank goodness!  We had thought he and Dory had done a personality switch on us!  

They are both doing excellent in their new foster home in Shelton, WA.  We hope to have them available for adoption by Thanksgiving or Christmas- though it depends on Dory's progress.

SMCPR Foster Dory, Duskey Headed Conure

Dory is a 6 year old Duskey Headed Conure.  She came to us shortly after we "opened our doors" in February 2010.  Dory came to us with her bonded hatch-ling mate, Darrian, after their owners knew that they couldn't take proper care of them anymore due to their work schedules changing.  As a result, Dory and Darrian came to us.

Dory has had an issue with noise, excessive even for a Conure species, as well as with biting.  She has been in retraining for months, but with little success, due to personality conflicts between her and her foster mother.  However, we have transferred her and Darrian to a new foster home in Shelton, WA with a different environment and lifestyle, and they are both coming along beautifully now!

Dory's wings had also been severely damaged due to a very bad grooming job, as well as plucking herself.  We never thought she would be able to fly again.  Now, all her feathers have grown back on her chest, as well as her tail feathers, and her wing feathers are growing again as well.  Dory is now flying up to 12 feet distances!  She is also much quieter, listens when she is told she needs to quiet.  She is almost much better regarding the biting issue.  She very rarely attempts to bite now.

We are hoping to have Dory and Darrian available for adoption around Thanksgiving or Christmas at the latest.

SMCPR Foster Mango, Jenday Conure

Mango is a young female Jenday Conure.  She came to us in October 2010.  She is approximately about 5 years old.  She came to us after her previous owner moved away, and the gentleman who had taken her in discovered he wasn't really a bird person.  He contacted us to see if we could help.

Mango is still undergoing her 30 Day Evaluation.  However, she is very intelligent, and a fast learner.  She loves to sing- she thinks she can sing opera, we think.  She also loves to whistle and make balloon type noises.  She can be a little loud at times when she's not getting the attention she wants.

She is already being retrained for her nipping.  She startles easily, and automatically attempts to nip.  Or if she doesn't want to cooperate, she attempts to nip.  She is quickly learning, in a positive way, that nipping is not acceptable.  This seems to be her only issue regarding a need for retraining or rehabilitation.  She is currently fostering with our Founder in Shelton, WA.

She is easy to handle, and loves to cuddle on your shoulder, or on your chest just below your chin.

We hope to have her ready for adoption around Thanksgiving.  Mango already has several people interested in adopting her.

SMCPR Foster Jasmine, Military Macaw

Jasmine, a female Military Macaw, came to us in September of 2010.  To the right is the latest pic of Jasmine, which we just got today.  Jasmine came to us after her owner of 23 years, who had raised her from a hatch-ling, lost her job and had to move and was unable to keep Jasmine.  After much maneuvering, we got Jasmine from the Spokane area to her new foster home in Maple Valley, WA.

After a few rocky bumps, Jasmine is now eating healthy.  She went on a food strike shortly after she arrived and we had a heck of a time finding things that she liked to eat that wasn't just junk food for parrots.  She is bonding with her new foster family, and is spoiled rotten.  She loves to take part in the family night games, and run around the house or hang around on her perch.

We are currently waiting on the results of Jasmine's 30 Day Evaluation to determine if she is able to be placed immediately for adoption, or if she will need to to undergo any retraining or rehabilitation before she is ready to find her forever home...... unless she's already found it!  LOL

SMCPR Foster Makeeba, Blue & Gold Macaw

Makeeba came to us early summer of 2010.  Her previous bonded owner died after a long suffering illness.  Unfortunately, Makeeba never took to the rest of the family, and as a result went into a huge depression where she lost weight and plucked herself bald over most of her body.  Her family knew they couldn't do anything to help her, and contacted us for help.

Now, Makeeba is in her foster home (who is also a parrot behaviorist) in Tacoma, WA.  Her weight has finally leveled off, and she is eating healthy again.  She has several nervous habits that she is being retrained and rehabilitated for, as well as working on getting her weight up.

She has bonded with her new foster mother, and we hope that between the bond and her foster mother's expertise, that Makeeba will hopefully be healthy emotionally and mentally, that she will get her weight where it needs to be, and eventually be fully feathered again.  Due to Makeeba's current emotional and physical condition, Makeeba is currently a permanent foster.

Parrot Quote of the Month (October 2010)

I hope that someday people can understand that it's not "just a bird," but the very thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human.."- Author Unknown

Bruiser, a traumatized Sun Conure, stuck at PetsMart in Tukwila. Help us help him!

Several days ago, the Founder of SMCPR received the following e-mail about a Sun Conure named Bruiser.  Please read his story:

"Dear Echo,

My name is *****, and I'm an employee at the Petsmart in Tukwila.  I was referred to you by a member of the Avian Avenue forum because of a sun conure, named Bruiser, who needs help.  Here's his story that I posted on the forum:

Bruiser is a Sun Conure who's somewhere around 2.5 to 3 years old. We call him a boy, though Bruiser could also be a girl. Bruiser's story as it was told to me when I first met him.

Bruiser came in on the last shipment of birds from a supplier Petsmart was no longer going to buy from, due to the consistently low quality of the birds they were sending. (In poor condition, either fearful or mean) They tell me that this supplier sent all the most aggressive birds in the last shipment. Bruiser was one such, and landed at the Petsmart Tukwila. Our pet care manager has scars from him, from when they first tried handling him. Even as a recently weaned baby he was rather vicious. He had cage aggression issues and could draw profuse amounts of blood when he bit. One he flew out of his cage in a panic while they had the door open, and injured himself in the small habitat room. He had to have stitches, get antibiotics daily, and wear a cone to keep him from picking the stitches out. He became fearful of hands then, instead of aggressive, and would fly away whenever you tried to get near. He was sold a few times over the years, and always returned, cause he bit the kids. *eyeroll* When I came to the store two years later, and met him for the first time, he sat on my finger for a moment before spazzing out and flying back into his cage. He really seemed to like our pet care manager the best, though. She would hold him and scritch him and take care of the pin feathers on his head. He was sold, apparently, again, and returned, when I wasn't in, and this time when I came back he'd had to have surgery on one of his toes (it looks like they had to remove a claw) and cowered and trembled whenever we came near. He doesn't bite anymore, which I suppose is decent- but I don't think he even lets the pet care manager hold him anymore. 

I try to take him out when I have time, and just hold him, but he always gets scared and flies back into his cage after a moment. 

No person in their right mind is going to buy a $600 special needs sun conure who's favorite past time is to scream non-stop. We can't even seem to give him away- I think the store manager would adopt him out to the right home if one talked to him right. One of our co-workers wanted to take him, she's very good with birds, but decided she has too much on her plate with work, college, and two dogs (one with special needs). We're having a hard time finding someone who will take him for free, once we describe his needs. *sigh*

I need ideas from you guys. This bird needs to get out of the pet store and go to a forever home where he can live a long happy life. Every time he's returned he gets worse. We can tell that he's craving attention and a family to bond to, but all he see's every day are strangers.

help? 

--------

     I'm currently trying to figure out a way to get him out of the store.  I may be able to convince the store manager to adopt him out- I may not.  If not, I am working on a plan to acquire him, though I can't pay for him all by myself, and am trying to think of a way to raise money if that is the case.

     If we do manage to get him out of the store, would you be able to take him and place him in a forever home?

  Sincerely,

*****"

--------------------

"Echo,

Thank you for the quick reply and the information.  I understand not being able to pay for him- I would not ask you to.  When I mention raising money I am thinking of trying to get a couple hundred dollars from outside sources to help me pay for the bird.  Once I have him paid for an out of there then I would go about placing him.  I cannot foster him, so he would have to go to a new home immediately.  I will give the store manager your information, and hope that he makes the right decision.  He is very unsure about what he wants to do. $600 is a big sale, and the store has probably well over a thousand dollars to vet bills alone.  Would you have a cage for him, or do should we get him one?

Thank you,

*****"

----------------------

After corresponding with her via e-mail, we attempted to see if the store manager would be willing to relinquish Bruiser to us so that we could provide him with extensive rehabilitation and get him ready to find his forever home. However, it didn't work out like we had hoped.  This was the next e-mail Echo received in response:

"Echo

I talked to the store manager about it.  He said that a couple might come back and purchase him, they were interested.  The people never come back though.  Even the ones that are "sure" they want him.  He also said that if Bruiser doesn't leave the store by the end of November, he's sending him down to Federal Way where they "sell two conures a week.  They'll be able to sell him down there."

:<  So it looks like the adoption thing isn't going to happen.  He's holding out for a sale.

I worked in Federal Way for some time, and if locals are buying conures at two a week then I feel sorry for the birds.  I'm really worried about him being sent down there, and then being returned or winding up in a home where he is neglected and abused.  They need to get over the money at look at this bird's history!  People buy him because he's pretty and then they return him when he turns out to be hard work.

It's so frustrating.

I hope we get the money together. I'll chip in as much as I can.  I'll call in tomorrow and see if I can get his medical records.

-*****"

-----------------------------------------

So, next we started the cry for financial donations to help save Bruiser.  To this date, we have $ 25 in pocket, and another $ 250 pledged.  

We also started a letter writing and phone call campaign to save Bruiser.  Conveniently, the store manager left the store early today after our phone call campaign started.

We also contacted Q13 Fox News, Kiro 7 News, King 5 News, and Komo 4 News to tell them about Bruiser and his situation.  

We also contacted the Seattle Times Newspaper, as well as the Tacoma News Tribune News Paper.  

We also have several people contacting the corporate office of PetsMart.

So far, no responses from anyone.  However, we found a gentleman by the name of Michael Cox, who has 47 years experience in rehabilitating abused and traumatized parrots, and he is willing to purchase Bruiser and make the 11 hour drive to pick him up.  The problem?  The store manager won't return his calls.  We've also contacted the employee who told us about Bruiser and let them know that we found a home for Bruiser, but need help getting the store manager to get on the phone so Michael can obtain Bruiser.

As of right now, that is where everything sits, and we are waiting......and waiting......

Shelton & Mason Co. Parrot Rescue (SMCPR) Desperately Seeking Foster Parents

Shelton & Mason Co. Parrot Rescue (SMCPR) is looking for additional SMCPR Parrot Foster Parents throughout Western Washington.  

We will supply with you all the needed supplies such as:  cages, perches, feed & water dishes, toys, play/perch stands (if available), cozy huts/buddies (if available), etc.  You will need to cover the food for the bird, but we would be happy to write you a tax donation receipt monthly or yearly for your out-of-pocket foster bird expenses, upon request.  If the parrot should ever need veterinary care, if we are unable to cover the costs, you may need to.  However, if this happens, we will provide you with a tax donation receipt for the total of the cost.

Foster parents are the back-bone of our rescue operation.  Without people like you, we wouldn't be able to help the many parrots we have, or be able to continue to help future parrots.

If you like parrots, and you have extra time on your hands that you would like to give to a worthy cause, why not help a parrot in need on his/her journey to find their forever home?

Shelton & Mason Co. Parrot Rescue (SMCPR) Desperately Seeking Volunteers

Shelton & Mason Co. Parrot Rescue (SMCPR) is in need of your help so that we can continue to help parrots in need.  We are currently in need of volunteers for the following positions:

* Parrot Foster Parents (foster parrots in need- quarantine, semi-permanent, and permanent foster parents and families needed)

* Online Free Classifieds Posters (post free online ads for volunteers, foster parents, donations, and to spread the word about our adoptable parrots.

* Transporters (help transport parrots and supply donations to mid-way points and/or their needed locations).

* Avian Veterinarians or Avian Vet Techs

* Supply Donations Locators (help locate supply donations for us).

People just like you are the back-bone of SMCPR.  And without you, we wouldn't be able to help the amount of parrots that we have, or be able to continue to do so.  Open your heart and help us help the parrots who need a second chance at life.