According to
the Humane Society of the United States, there are over 40 million pet birds in
our country alone.
Says Steve
Fitzsimmons of the Madison Area Cage Bird Association of Wisconsin (MACAW):
A big
difference between other pets and birds is, the average bird can live up to 5
times longer. Some Macaws, like this blue and gold guy, live to over 100 years!
While dogs and
cats have been more domesticated over thousands of years, birds just started
coming into the pet world this last 100 years. Birds are also more wild;
therefore, less trainable. If a bird doesn't like you or something you are
doing, he will likely bite.
Pet stores obtain
most of their winged 'merchandise' from bird breeding factories -- many of
which are right in the pet stores themselves. Some birds are taken away from
their mothers too soon and sold to inexperienced buyers, and die as a result.
Most pet stores do no training or screening of potential buyers.
Many birds end up
in shelters or rescues when they are no longer wanted. They are the lucky ones.
Others are abused, or just taken out and let go to fend for themselves. In
general, like other pets who have been bred to rely on man, they cannot survive
in the wild. However, in some warm climates, such as California, there are
flocks of parakeets and other pet birds living in the cities after being let go
by people who no longer want them!
