A friend of mine lives 2 hours away me who is also an Animal Control Officer and has a case right now involving a "rescue" run from a trailer.
I use the " " because I saw the pictures, it's ongoing so I can't really say much.
Basically someone took in a very large amount of birds and was breeding and selling them claiming to be a "rescue" group.
Over the past few weeks an avian vet has treated them and kept them in quarantine. (Super nice clinic!!)
The person in charge of the "rescue" elected to relinquish their rights to the birds.
The well ones have gone to real rescue groups.
I was up there for the day yesterday testifying in an unrelated case and stopped by the vets office to see my friend and see if I could offer any advice for his case.
There were still a few birds there at the clinic.
I think you guys know where this is going right.....
I saw one of the techs toweling a little lovebird to clip his wings. He was really upset so I went over and tried to calm him down. She said that he was very bitey even though they had been handfeeding him initially but he always freaked out and started eating on his own two weeks ago. He was kept separately because the vet was going to keep him as a clinic bird.
She let me hold him when she was done and he calmed down. I kept right on holding him and telling him how sorry I was that he was born in a place like that and that his family wasn't with him. Two hours later I went to put him back in his box and he got very upset and kept trying to come back to me. The vet said "I think you have yourself a bird". It's a tentative thing until it's cleared with the brass of course but for now he is here.
We went for sushi after we left the clinic and he stayed tucked into my vest (kevlar) and didn't make a peep so noone knew he was there, except the waitress who saw me feed him bits of edamame. She just smiled.
He rode home in my pocket ( there was a mess in my clevage) and kept on snuggling until I put him in his cage, luckily the vet was nice enough to give me one with some toys and perches.
I have broken the cardinal rule of quarantine. He is in my room with my Kevin. Opposite sides of the room but still the same room.
He panicks when the dogs bark and my daughter's kitten is a terror. Nothing is safe from Chicken the kitten. 4 ipod ear buds, 2 cell phone chargers, socks, dog toys, she has ruined many things in her little life so I'm petrified she will get my birds. Shame on me I know, I just can't let them be far from me or out of reach.
On a positive note, this morning Kevin seemed very interested in my baby talk to Sushi, appropriate name I think, and was flapping for attention. No bites at all and he took a few safflower seeds from my fingers and gave me one kiss. Maybe the jealousy/ curiosity will help Kevin to forgive me for leaving him for 4 days.
Oh, and I did get a travel carrier set together for next time I have to leave for more than a day. Kevin will just have to like his pink crate. I need to check craigslist for one for Sushi now because I will not be leaving them at home. EVER. I learned my lesson.