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Parrot at the Lincoln Park Zoo circa 1900

I had a dream the other night…a nightmare, really, that I couldn’t take it anymore.

The animals were too much.  I decided that I had to give up my African grey, Ty and my Brittany spaniel, Booth. Worse. I was desperate. I wanted them out of my life immediately.

And so, I left the grey in a park and the dog on a street corner and I swore to myself that I was doing the right thing.

Oh, the HORROR.

If you know me and my menagerie, you would understand that this was a dream about the two animals I would only give up last and in utter desperation. Don’t me get wrong. I love Anakin, the peregrine (and if you aren’t sure why, you should read LIFT ) and I love my other two parrots too. However, I would have to be crushed to lose the bird that narrates my idiosyncrasies and the dog that takes care of my falcons and warms my nights. My other birds would be fine in the right home, but these two animals are a piece of what keeps me human and whole. And after so many phone calls from people wanting to give up parrots on a whim, my disdain for someone doing as I did in the dream is immense.

So it wasn’t long before I realized the horrid mistake I had made in this dream. And I managed to get my animals back. Booth and Ty weren’t the same though. Ty was missing most of his feathers (plucked by rats) and Booth didn’t trust me much anymore. I woke up terrified and reaching for my dog, then jumping out of bed to make sure the parrot was safe and sound. And for the rest of the day I found myself thinking and humbled.

These are bad times and pets suffer for it. The people who have to relinquish their pets suffer for it too. So many of us are in a panic. And I think I understand.

Don’t panic. Think. There may be solutions, even temporary solutions before you have to relinquish your pets forever. Before you do something drastic, consider the following.

1. Consider solving behavior problems before you decide there is no possibility of moving you parrot or other pet to another home. We’re all hurting for money, but talk to your local rescue. There may be a resource for getting you the help you need to problem solve for free. You better be committed and serious, but you’ll get to keep your pet. I for one, as someone who consults, would lend a hand to someone local if it were a matter of keeping their parrot or relinquishing it.
2. Consider being creative. Explain your situation to a rescue group and see if there is a temporary alternative. Maybe you can afford food, medication etc. for your animal but, it is a question of housing. Be creative. Bad times don’t last forever and animal people who work in rescue are giving and flexible.
3. Join a local parrot group. (Or other enthusiasts depending on your animal.) I have heard several stories of people who have agreed to long-term arrangements for “fostering” someone’s pet because they knew that person and understood that it was tough times and a temporary situation. And generally it turned out it was temporary.
4. Get support. We’ll all struggling. Believe me, as someone who works in fund-raising with major donors I know what the economy is like. I also know that I feel guilty because I’m not yet in dire straights like so many others. I also am depressed because I have watched so many people that I admire and really like lose everything and have to start over. What most of us need is an understanding ear, a friend, someone who can tell us honestly that they love us and it really will be okay. Sometimes that’s all you need to get you past the panic that would cause you to relinquish a pet that you love.

Stay strong. Look for help.  And much love to you and your parrots.