ASPCA Celebrates January As Adopt-a-Rescued-Bird Month

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Friday, 27 December 2002

Need a tweetheart? Adopt a rescued bird!

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is celebrating January 2003 as the second annual Adopt-a-Rescued-Bird Month. Shelters and bird placement groups across the country are seeing an increase in the number of birds that are in need of permanent homes. Instead of purchasing a bird, the ASPCA encourages Americans to let a rescued bird fly into their heart!

"As with any companion animal, potential bird adopters should be ready to invest money for regular veterinary care, a varied diet, appropriately-sized cages and toys," says Jacque Schultz, ASPCA director of special projects. "Birds are social creatures. Those in the parrot family depend on human contact for their happiness and well-being. Owners must be prepared to spend time playing with and talking to their feathered friends."

Once the decision is made to adopt, a variety of species with distinct characteristics and needs are available. Tiny canaries delight with their vibrant colors and beautiful songs. Fast-moving finches can entertain observers for hours. Looking for a more interactive bird? Budgies and cockatiels enjoy handling and often mimic words and household noises. And if you can commit substantial time and space to a loud, demanding, intelligent bird, one of the larger members of the parrot family may be right for you. These brainy birds need mental stimulation, companionship and extensive exercise time out of their cages daily; and keep in mind that medium-to-large parrots can live 25-50+ years.

How do you know if a bird is the right pet for you? And how do you decide what type of bird will best suit your household? The scenarios listed here should help potential owners make a decision that's right for them and a new avian friend.

Make Pet Adoption Your First Option is a message that the ASPCA encourages throughout the year in order to facilitate our ultimate goal, an end to the euthanasia of all adoptable animals. Helping us to achieve this goal and supporting Adopt-a-Rescued-Bird Month, is our online partner Petfinder.com. Equipped with a searchable database of over 4,000 animal shelters and rescue groups, potential adopters can view thousands of adoptable animals ranging in age, size, breed and location. For more information about bird care, visit www.aspca.org.

For more information, or to contact American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, see their website at: www.aspca.org