Bird hoarding rare, but it happens

In Weatherford, Texas, animal control officers removed more than 100 exotic birds — cockatoos, macaws, and parrots from a tiny home. The birds had been “rescued” by the family who obviously let things get out of control. Some of the cages looked like they had never been cleaned and some of the birds looked sick. Mostly though, this was a clear case of hoarding, even though bird hoarding is rare.

Some bird rescuers refuse to rehome exotic birds because of their long lifespan. They worry that they will be bounced from home to home over potentially a 35 (cockatoos) to 75 year (parrots) life span. But keeping over 100 exotic birds in a tiny home in squalid conditions is cruelty.

It’s easy for rescuers to get in over their head, when instead they should be level headed and only take in what they can reasonably care for and shelter. I’ve always thought there should be a separate humane society for birds.

Cathy M. Rosenthal