Please read this

This caught my heart on Facebook
A parrot's bill of rights

Stewart A. Metz, M.D.

1. GET TO
KNOW ABOUT PARROTS BEFORE YOU BRING ME HOME - I am not a domesticated
pet like a dog or cat. I still have the spirit of the jungle in me. I
have special needs which you may find it hard to fill. Please don't
learn these too late for my well-being. And please don't acquire one of
my cousins wild from the jungle—it will jeopardize his survival and
well-being, and that won't be a party for you either!

2. GIVE ME
THE LARGEST HOME POSSIBLE - I am used to flying through rainforests or
savannas. I have given up this great gift for your pleasure. At the very
least, give me enough room to flap my wings and exercise. And, I need
toys for my amusement and wood to chew. Otherwise, I might confuse your
home with the forest and its trees.

3. GIVE ME A NUTRITIOUS DIET -
I need a wide variety of fresh and nutritious foods, even if they take
time to prepare. I cannot survive on seeds alone and be healthy. Take
time to learn what my needs and preferences are.

4. LET ME HAVE A
SOCIAL LIFE - I am a gregarious flock animal, but I am not one of you. I
need lots of socialization to learn how to interact with you as well as
my siblings. I also need to have adequate quality time with you every
day—no matter what your schedule or other needs are. I am a living,
feeling creature. Above all, I need to be able to have complete trust in
you and count on your predictability in looking after me—every day.

5.
LET ME BE CLEAN - I may like to drop food or even throw it, but I need
meticulous cleanliness to be healthy. My skin itches without frequent
showers, the barbs of my feathers won't seal if they become oily and,
worst of all, I may become ill if my food or water is not always
sanitary.

6. I NEED MY OWN DOCTOR - You may not understand my
physiology and therefore you may not recognize it early on when I get
sick. And, it may be too late when you do, because I hide my illnesses.
(Remember what I said about my being an animal of the jungle, where
there are lots of predators.) And I need an avian vet—a specialist. (No
HMOs for me please.) If you can't afford one, perhaps you shouldn't have
taken me home.

7. PLEASE DON'T PUNISH ME - Just as I don't
always understand your peculiarities, you may not understand mine. I
don't TRY to get into trouble—remember, a house is not the jungle. If I
do screw up, don't yell at me and never hit me. I have sensitive ears
and I may never trust you again if you strike me. Hands are sometimes
scary things to us. (Why in the world would you not be zygodactylous
like us?) Even more importantly, we don't learn by punishment. We are
gentle creatures who only strike back to protect ourselves; we learn
through patience and love.

8. SPEAK MY "LANGUAGE" - I know you
get upset with me when I knock over my water bowl, throw food, scream,
or pluck my feathers. I don't do these things to annoy you. I am
probably trying to tell you something ( perhaps that I am hurting,
lonely, or sad). Learn to speak MY (body) language. Remember that I,
alone of all creatures on this planet, learn to speak yours!

9.
SEE ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL - I am a unique and feeling being. No two of us
are alike. Please don't be disappointed in me if I don't talk like you
wanted or can't do the tricks that your friend's parrot can do. But if
you pay close attention to me (and I always empathize with you, whether
you know), I will show you a unique being who will give you so much more
than talking and playing. Give me a chance to show you who I am; I
think you'll find the effort worth it. And remember, I am not an
ornament. I do not enhance ANY living room decor. And I am not a status
symbol—if you use me as such, I might nip at your up-turned nose!

10.
SHARE YOUR LOVE WITH ME - Above all, please remember that you are my
Special Person. I put all my trust and faith in you. We parrots are used
to being monogamous. (No bar-hopping for us!) So please don't go away
for long periods or give me away—that would be a sadness from which I
may never recover. If that seems to be asking a lot, remember, you could
have learned about my needs before bringing me home. Even having a baby
or taking a new job isn't a fair reason—you made a commitment to me
FIRST. And if you think that you must leave me because you might die,
provide for me forever after you leave. I may live to a ripe old age,
but I can't provide for myself. Remember I'm in a small cage amongst
people who are not of my blood.

11. YOUR RIGHTS - You have lots
of rights, but I can only assure one. And that is, if you treat me the
way I described above, I will reward you with unwavering love, humor,
knowledge, beauty, dedication, and a sense of wonder and awe you haven't
felt since you were a child. When you took me home, you became my Flock
Leader, indeed, my entire universe—for life. I would hang the moon and
stars for you if I could. We are one in Heart and Soul.


http://www.causes.com/causes/616420

I tried to copy and paste this as a note on facebook, but it wouldn't let me. Love it, thanks for sharing!

Julsiebean wrote:

I tried to copy and paste this as a note on facebook, but it wouldn't let me. Love it, thanks for sharing!

copy it here and when you go to FB then open a note and paste.

I tried, but facebook's note thingy won't let me paste anything. I right click and the blank option isn't there.

wise words of wisdom, wish every potential buyer could read it first...

now i have a question kinda off topic...if a shepherd looks after sheep and a herdsman looks after a herd, what are we called who look after a flock...

and yes i know it's not the mama's and the papa's...lol


dusty

dusty wrote:

wise words of wisdom, wish every potential buyer could read it first...

now i have a question kinda off topic...if a shepherd looks after sheep and a herdsman looks after a herd, what are we called who look after a flock...

and yes i know it's not the mama's and the papa's...lol


dusty

We are called Aviculturists

dusty wrote:

now i have a question kinda off topic...if a shepherd looks after sheep and a herdsman looks after a herd, what are we called who look after a flock...

and yes i know it's not the mama's and the papa's...lol


dusty

Flockin' crazy?

I have one to add for those of you that have rescued your birds (and other animals, too). It makes me tear up whenever I read it (I know terribly manly. What can I say, I have a soft heart).

The Rescuer’s Final Reward



Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge.

Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.

But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge.

There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass, staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting, yet not knowing for what he was waiting.

One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, “Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge.”

The dog asked the cat, “So what will happen to those animals?” Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, “Watch, and you will see.”

In the distance was a single person, and as he approached the Bridge the old, infirm and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug. One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love.

The dog asked the cat, “What just happened?”

The cat responded, “That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn’t place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge.”

The dog thought for a moment, then said, “I like rescuers.” The cat smiled and replied, “So does heaven, my friend. So does heaven.”

-author unknown

Wow. This isn't stuff I should read while hormonal... It makes me cry... (TMI? Sorry... but it's true... after this I need some chocolate...)

SO BEAUTIFUL!

Amen

evil chicken wrote:

Wow. This isn't stuff I should read while hormonal... It makes me cry... (TMI? Sorry... but it's true... after this I need some chocolate...)

SO BEAUTIFUL!

what a great story, i have a lump in my throat


dusty

zazanomore wrote:

evil chicken wrote:

Wow. This isn't stuff I should read while hormonal... It makes me cry... (TMI? Sorry... but it's true... after this I need some chocolate...)

SO BEAUTIFUL!

You're female. You know what I mean. And hey - chocolate worked! Until I went back and read everything again...

It's okay, I have my bag of mini reese's cups

Thank you RogerP it sure hit a spot

Guys, do you mind if we move this topic as "sticky" somewhere, to make sure it won't "disapear" from first page with time?

Margaret wrote:

Guys, do you mind if we move this topic as "sticky" somewhere, to make sure it won't "disapear" from first page with time?

I think that would be wonderful