Stray Parrot Protocol:
With so many birds being lost and found every day, it is imperative to follow the correct procedures when finding a stray. Not only is it the ethical thing to do, but you have a legal obligation to fulfill.
Upon finding a stray parrot, the following steps should be adhered to:
Alert local vets, rescues, community groups and Facebook groups.
Register the found bird on www.parrotalert.com and check for any corresponding lost bird reports.
Get the bird to a vet to check for a microchip and any health concerns. Most vets will accommodate a stray free of charge if released into their care. They then contact a rescue organization to assist with housing and networking the bird. If you are wanting to foster the bird yourself, you need to be prepared to incur some costs. It is unfair on the animal to be housed in an inappropriate situation without access to medical care, simply because you wish to remain in possession of it.
Many wild birds are taken in as “strays” as they appear tame when found. Often the bird, particularly Lovebirds and Indian Ringneck Parakeets, are severely emaciated and therefore mistaken for being tame. In these situations, it is best to consult an avian vet immediately as the bird may require urgent medical attention. There is a massive risk in taking in a stray bird, and quarantine procedures should be followed religiously. Unknown birds carry many diseases and parasites which can easily infect your own flock, and even you, some of these being fatal.
Cheeky Beaks Parrot Rescue offers assistance with foster homes for found birds in an attempt to assist with finding their owners.
We have been researching various SA shelters’ policies regarding strays and also SA law regarding lost property (including SPCA legislation with regards to stray pets), and we have decided to amend our policy with regards to stray parrots.
We have also directly contacted the NSPCA to get their input in terms of the legality of eventually rehoming exotic stray pets and have included their feedback in our policy update.
Please take note of the following:
1. A bird is found and we are asked to assist with caring for it and locating the owners – we enter it into a two week ‘red zone’ period where a ParrotAlert is created and circulated to the local vets, pet stores, community groups, social media, etc.
2. If the bird is unclaimed after the two weeks, we seek a long-term foster, or the foster they are currently with becomes the long-term foster. The ParrotAlert is circulated on a cycle with our other strays each weekend. The bird remains in long-term foster for a period of four years.
3. Nearing the end of the four years, a last-ditch attempt is made in the final 6 months where the ParrotAlert is again circulated to all the local vets, community groups, etc.
4. If in those last 6 months, the owner still does not come forward, we place a notice of intent on our social media that the bird is about to be placed up for adoption – the community then has the right to object or consent to this.
5. The long-term foster is given first priority to adopt as moving the bird after 4 years from a good home would be traumatic – we also state this is our policy that if we were to wait longer than this and an owner pitches the bird has already settled in a new environment and bonded to a new family (and the bird’s well being needs to be considered first).
Many birds have lifelong bonds with their owners or other birds. The correct thing to do is utilize all avenues and services available in an attempt to locate the owners.
A common misconception is that we want to take possession of all strays found. Strays are actually a huge drain on our resources, as they require the long-term commitment and care that an adoptable bird does. Quite often this includes extensive rehabilitation and training. It ties up a cage, a foster home, costs us money to seek medical attention, and feed the bird. We do this happily, but are also happy to work with the public to retain the stray while the owners are located. We simply want to ensure that all birds are cared for adequately and housed appropriately.
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