Parrots are among the most popular exotic pets in Canada, but animal rescues warn there aren’t enough resources to support birds that can outlive their owners by decades.
The largest parrot rescue in Eastern Ontario, Parrot Partners in Carleton Place says it’s struggling to keep up with demand and is now launching a pilot program aimed at giving parrots long-term stability. Executive Director Judy Tennant explains the problem they’re trying to solve.
She was joined by Coco the Red, an adult macaw to give us the details.
She says the rescue system is stretched thin and largely informal with only a small handful of professionally-run sanctuaries across Canada.
Tennant and her board of directors have begun a 3-year pilot program to address the needs of these birds with home placements rather than selling the birds outright.
After careful screenings, a bird could be placed in a home with the human parents paying a monthly fee to provide certain coverage and access to discounts on supplies, much like an insurance program as Judy notes.
The goal is to keep parrots in stable homes and build a model that could be used across the country; certainly no bird-brained idea. For more details or to arrange a tour of the Carleton Place facility go to parrotpartners.org
Story by Brian Turner
