I'm currently in Lakeland, FL, and I'm just wondering if there are any bird stuff shops around the area...just in case anyone here has ever been around. Perhaps I'm wrong in thinking this but I figure that Florida may have a more interested clientele in parrots than in Alabama.

the following posting is a craigslist ad i have been posting for the pst 5 months in San diego CA. I worked at Our Feathered Friends a local parrot store, and witnessed neglect, abuse, and many deaths of parrots. The owners, do not care about these animals, and only care about the money they earn. I have reported to the humane society with little reaction, please read more:

I worked at our feathered Friends for a short 3 months. I was happy at first and believed that I was working at the best bird store in San Diego,  but as my training went by I witnessed disgusting, cruel, negligent and inhumane acts. I had been informed by the owners and other employees to relocate sick and injured birds to the upstairs holding room, this room is not supposed to be shown to the public, and inst even mentioned to the public. I personally saw at least 10 birds die in this room, none of them had seen a vet, and were being given Doxycline Hydrochloride mixed in their water. These birds were and are still being kept, just down the hall of where customers board their birds.

All of this became too much to take when I discovered a dead Jenday conure, in the break room freezer, and learned that the owner had taken it in from a tenant of her building who had found it near their house the bird was left in the holding room for at least a week. The same day I found the Jenday the coworkers were talking about an Umbrella cockatoo upstairs that was injured with a broken leg, Sharron (the owner of the store) claimed she would have a vet come in and check on it, two days of work went by, and i never saw a single vet come into the building, Employees had informed me that the problem wasn't that serious. I attempted to communicate with Sharron Petrarca, the owner my concern for these animals, but she was hardly ever there, and and when she was she was always too busy to talk. I had to do something to stop this from happening, so I called the humane society and a few other people who could help. I sent some pictures I began taking with my cell phone while I was alone in the holding room and break room. i sent the officer an email including what was going on along with some pictures i took. 1 Week later the humane society came to investigate, the officer did not look in the freezer where the dead bird was still at. The officer claimed they wanted to protect my confidentiality. During the investigation of the store the officer pointed out a few things that were not compliant with current regulations, including: A sick Indian Ringneck that wouldn't even eat or drink, and a cockatiel cage that was extremely over crowded, Im talking about at least 12 cockatiels in a 14' x 14' cage. the Ringneck was brought upstairs into the holding room, because Sharron (the owner) did not answer the phone.  A few hours later the parrot died. the cockatiels were never moved from what I saw.

These are the pictures I took once again for those who have not seen them.

http://picasaweb.google.com/DarrellHolbrooks/OurFeatheredFriends?feat=directlink


this is the stores website:
http://www.ourfeatheredfriends.com/

On December 15th 2009 I received information that nothing in either of the owners stores have changed.I feel that San Diego is not hearing my voice, please help me save the animals, which are still alive before it is too late.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me
Darrellholbrooks@gmail.com

Does anyone have any advice on how to clean a rope perches without the use of a dishwasher? Because quite frankly I don't have one and nothing I do manually seems to get them clean enough. I think I get all the yuck off the perches only for them to dry out and still have little white flakes in places. >:(

Also, what are the signs that you should replace them? Is there a standard of time that I should use them before discarding? I have one that I am just going to do away with because it is down to the under stuff because I've clipped all the loose soft colored rope away when it comes loose. But I have another that is in better shape but not great. I'm thinking of doing away with it too and getting more after the 1st of the year.

On a side note, I can't wait until tomorrow!!!!! I just got my first birdy booty order at the beginning of Dec. and tomorrow is Yule so when the beebs come home from their week long stay at their grand-peoples house (had to treat the house for fleas) they get to have their birdy booty! I can't wait to see if they like it.

~*~ River

Now while it is not a parrot. The attitude behind it is so much little bird attitude.
Tell me one single love bird owner or Parrotlet owner who does not see this on a daily basis.

For lyrapuppy  who upon asking how I was doing with health stuff and all -  got cried at... Thank you for asking ::HUGS:: 

There's nothing a god can give to me that I can't give to myself
I put my beliefs in the things I believe and a god can take care of himself
There's not enough love in the world for me to think about wasting my time

It's not that I don't believe at all but I don't need a heavenly sign
I can achieve the things I need without getting down on my knees
I can respect your religion but I don't want to pay your fees
I don't want to hear you talk about the things you think that I need
so don't help me back on my feet again until you can hear me plead

Just look in the holy book of crooks and tell me what you can find
All the rules and the regulations made to manipulate your mind
Don't pretend that you're blind just open your mind and study historical times
The bigger the loss the bigger the cost the bigger the cross and its crimes

I don't believe in a god that I need to worship
I don't believe that I need to get down on my knees
I don't believe that a voice from above can help me
I only believe in what I can see and the things that I can achieve

Whatever belief you belong to there's still always a reason to doubt
and there's always another opinion as to what life is all about
There's always a bigger dimension and a different point of view
so I don't want to try to change you that decision is up to you

Whatever your final choice is and however you choose to live
You'd better be happy for what you can get and happy for what you can give
There's only one thing to remember there is only one thing you can do
and that is to do unto others as you'd have others do unto you

Chorus

Two sides two sides to every story
two stories more makes four new ones to choose
Four sides four sides to every story
four stories more makes eight new ones to choose
Eight sides eight sides to every story
eight stories more now which one should you choose
now which one can you use

Chorus

I thought I would share the holiday cheer that Peanut and Brittle's adoptive mom dropped into my email box earlier today.


I believe that's Peanut on the left, and Brittle on the upper right.

"They are doing great! They are both such sweeties. Peanut is singing up a storm this week doing the foot-microphone routine. Last week Brittle was the one singing a lot. They seem to take turns. So glad they have settled in so well here. I couldn't have asked for better birdies!"

D'awwwwww. :D

So, if you have an adopted birdie, send their foster family or previous family a little holiday cheer! (And if you don't have an adopted birdie - maybe you need one.) ;)

Yet....

Signs pointing to one of the 'normal' arythmias many folks have. Dr was able to hear some of the echos I've been talking about (flutters and missed beats... for a drummer can I just say how annoying that is?) though my EKG came back clean. I got finger pricked... TWICE and blood drawn so they can investigate chemical causes (hormones / thyroid)

In the mean time I get to still check my own pulse, if it is commonly above 100 or I have more often 'episodes' where I'm skipping beats and my pulse comes thudding inside my chest when it's tight then I get to call them up and have them order up a heart monitor for me.

fun times.