It is nobler to declare oneself wrong than to insist on being right - especially when one is right.
Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

You know, Nietzsche had a lot to say about life, for someone who knew so little about it.

Ed has lost his mind. How about we take up a collection and send him to a parrot filled mental institution. PETA rules!!

Coming from the likes of you, that is high praise. PETA is an organization that claims to protect the rights of animals, and in doing so has killed numerous animals to "free them from bondage". Anyone that would support such an organization is a fool.

Enough! (One more word about PETA et al and I shall choke on my own feathers!) I am most certainly alive, well, and warring against fascism - these days of the Islamaniac variety - at my blog http://www.churchillsparrot.com. You'll get the whole story in the About Me section.

Cheers,

Charlie

Sorry, Charlie, but PETA's troops are desperate to put down anyone who wishes to share their lives with any parrot, or any animal at all for that matter. They are a true terrorist organization without doubr, and that is a simple fact. I look forward to reading your blog, I think. You are welcome to join my group on Yahoo Groups call American Voice to express your thoughts as well, it is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/americanvoice/.

Ed, my friend, I have one thing to say to you. GET A LIFE!!

Is that Kamal or Camel? Whatever, I have a great life, thank you. You on the other hand can't even form a legitimate thought. How pathetic.

Well as a bird store owner, I can attest that people buy birds on impulse all the time. I bring my own bird to work with me and people first ask if she can talk or do tricks, when I say "yes" they immediately ask if they can buy her. I refuse people to purchase birds all the time much to my husbands dismay because I think it is an extremely important life altering decision. No not all Macaws scream. I own two that don't. Only one of my birds is a wood chewer. Every bird/macaw has their own personality. Also contrary to what Ed said people would most likely NOT see these habits in a store because most stores only carry babies.

How ever most Macaws also don't live to be 80+ years old unlike what Katie said. That would be very rare.

I also am a board member to a local 501c3 non-profit parrot rescue and I can attest to the fact that yes "most" birds are given up do to family circumstances but a fair amount are also given up because people have no idea what they are doing and bought the bird because it was pretty.

Also very few stores offer a return policy for more then a few days and the policy is usually in reference to a bird health warranty. I know of no stores that if you buy a baby macaw and down the road when it grows up and develops unwanted behaviors, will they take it back and give you a refund.

Hey Ed, what rescues do you work with? Since you are checking Katie's I would be happy to check yours. You are welcome to check mine. http://www.pamperedparrots.org the group I work with.

Once more on the subject:

Ed claims
"In my experience I have seen no one buy a macaw and regret the purchase." Does this mean that he doesn't check up on the welfare of his birds? Because he claims to selling dozens of birds and I am inclined to think that over all the years he is claiming to be a breeder that at least one person would be having buyers remorse.

Not only that but did anyone catch that first he claims his "friend" owns the store then he states "our store?"

He also claims that large chain stores make sure that people research befor they buy. Not so my friend. I can personally attest to and proabbly prove if I need to that I know for a FACT that our local Petsmart sold an Umbrella cockatoo before it was even finished being weaned. The bird was 2 before the owners got him weaned beacause they have no idea what the heck they were doing.

In Ed's defence I think Katie is wrong that macaws make bad pets. Macaws make wonderful companions when you take the time to learn about them. I think it is a HUGE diservice to the bird when you buy for the wrong reasons. I too tell people the good the bad and the ugly. And I do understand that this would ruffle some feathers with Macaw owners. I LOVE my birds and I tell people that but I also say that you have to really know what you are doing or else the bird will be at the top of the pecking order instead of you.

To Kris D., if people are buying macaws on impulse from your shop, and you know it, then it is your fault and your responsibility. You are wrong about not seeing bad habits in stores, since I have been in many, and it has been obvious in every single one. The only babies that don't chew are unweaned ones, and if you are selling them, you should be ashamed of yourself. I have never said that people don't make mistakes in buying any bird, but simply that it is NOT the epidemic that the PETA supporters here would have people believe. I have also said nothing about store return policies, so I don't know why you addressed that. We don't have any rescues locally, and frankly, my personal life is none of your business. I am not about to post anything more for the wackos that come here to use. My primary point, as it always has been, is that MOST birds go to homes that they stay with, and are only given up in extreme situations. There are some that do not, but they are a small percentage of the overall picture. While it does need to be addressed, it isn't the epidemic these extremist claim it to be. I never claimed to be a breeder, I worked in bird sales, and have been in the industry for years. In that time I have never had a customer regret their decision, and that is due to the fact that we educate them PRIOR to the purchase. If you have seen this, you are not doing your job and shouldn't be in the business of selling birds. I know it does happen, but only when stores don't do a decent job of educating their customer of the pros and cons of bird ownership. I have never claimed anything about large chain store requiring research before a purchase, and find it interesting that you are doing your best to pick apart every little part of what I say, in the vain hope of breaking down the points I make. Just because you don't do an adequate job yourself doesn't mean others are the same way. I would like to see you prove your claim about the PetSmart selling an unweaned Cockatoo, especially since I know that is a violation of their policies. While it might happen, it is just the actions of a poor seller, much like your store, from the sound of it. I noticed on the site you listed that there are a lot of claims to your credit. Can you provide proof that you are what you claim to be? I seriously doubt it. On one hand you claim you tell "the good, bad and the ugly" about birds, yet you also say that people buy on impulse from you shop. If you are really giving the necessary information, how is it that they are still uninformed? Are they just ignoring you?

Kris,
On your rescue's site, they state that more than 400 birds have been placed into homes. Obviously, they would do more work to insure these birds are properly placed, so this confirms what I have been saying all along. There is no epidemic of birds without homes. These birds might go into the rescue, but they are being cared for and then placed in loving homes. Thank you for making my point, even though you tried to discredit it. The site you listed proves I am right. Thanks for posting it.

first thing. omg. how long have you guys been fighting over this? you seriously need to find something better to do with ur time. like look after ur many parrots maybe? not meaning to be offensive but you are very childish. go do something with ur life.

Anon,
Why don't you mind your own business. You know nothing about parrots or this discussion, and have the nerve to post ANYTHING, that is just amazing to me. I for one am glad that Ed stood up and fought these loser peta supporters. They will say or do anything, including kill the animals they claim to want to "protect" and they know nothing about these beautiful creatures. What Ed said is 100% true, and anyone with half a brain would see that. I admire him for having the courage to take a stand and never back down.

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