[TN-Bird] Re: PetSmart/African Gray update

Patty-
For what it's worth, I think this is off-topic for this list, but I guess 
that's for the moderator to decide.
Since I've already responded, I'll add my two cents worth as someone who has 
owned pet birds (all captive-bred and hand-raised) for most of my life.  As 
owners of two "fids" (i.e. feathered kids) ourselves (a 17-year-old female 
Yellow-headed Parrot (Amazona ochracephala) and a 2-year-old male Sun Parakeet 
(Aratinga solstitialis)), I can certainly sympathize, and it is certainly a 
tragedy.  It is for precisely this reason that I tell people to never, ever, 
ever buy pet birds (especially expensive ones) other than directly from a 
reputable breeder.

Chain pet stores utterly fail to recognize that (responsible) people are making 
not just a financial but a tremendously emotional investment in these 
purchases; it is not as simple as just "bringing it back for a refund."  
Responsible and caring owners would in fact expend a tremendous amount of money 
and energy trying to save the bird, and would never even consider sending it 
back to where it came from.

Furthermore, in addition to the poor care that these birds often receive at the 
stores, I am shocked at how poorly they equip the new owner to care for these 
birds.  Most send the owners home with nothing but a bag of birdseed for food, 
when in fact this would be the equivalent of forcing a human to live off of 
porkrinds for the rest of their lives (both in terms of boredom and health 
value).  It's a recipe for disaster.  And that doesn't even take into account 
that they shouldn't saddle a novice bird owner with a bird like an African Grey 
(something easier like a Cockatiel or a Budgie would be more appropriate) - 
parrots are very complicated animals, and someone who has never owned a bird 
before cannot possibly understand the animal and how to properly interact with 
it and care for it without some degree of training or education.  This too is a 
recipe for disaster, because all too often the bird, acting naturally to its 
incorrect treatment, gets branded as "mean" and sent of
 f to a miserable life elsewhere, and the bitter owner never experiences the 
joy that can come from living with such a marvelous creature.  I can go on and 
on (this is something I feel strongly about, obviously), but I'll save it for 
another day.

We don't ever buy from Petsmart as it is, but if we did, this would be reason 
enough to stop.

--
Chris Sloan
chris.sloan@xxxxxxxxxxx
Nashville, TN

-------------- Original message -------------- 

> Content-Type: text/plain; 
> charset="us-ascii" 
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable 
> I received this today as an update. I will add that I went by the = 
> PetSmart 
> today and talked to the manager and am of the same opinion that they are 
> just talking around in circles and trying to get us off of their backs. 
> 
> Patty Ford 
> 
> Knoxville,=20 
> 
> =20 
> 
> <<> 
> =20 
> 
> 5 P.M., November 28, 2005 
> 
> =20 
> 
> To all those concerned for the welfare of the PetSmart African Grey, 
> 
> =20 
> 
> The manager of PetSmart on Morrell Road in Knoxville, Tn., Mark = 
> Michalowski, 
> called me at 4:52 p.m. to inform me that PetSmart will be shipping the = 
> baby 
> parrot some time this week back to the breeder it came from in Florida. 
> 
> =20 
> 
> As most of you know, this is not the best solution for this parrot. = 
> This 
> baby will be subjected to the stress of being flown to Florida, sitting = 
> in a 
> drafty claim area filled with frightening noises. =20 
> 
> =20 
> 
> I have repeatedly been told by PetSmart managers that PetSmart cares = 
> deeply 
> for its animals. Yet here we have a small parrot who needs to go home = 
> with 
> a loving caretaker tonight and is not being allowed to do so. =20 
> 
> =20 
> 
> PetSmart has the assistant manager, James Smith, who has offered = 
> repeatedly 
> to care for this parrot in his own home. PetSmart has the director of = 
> the 
> veterinarian clinic within its own store who has offered to not only = 
> care 
> for the parrot but to pay PetSmart a reduced fee. I too have offered to 
> foster the parrot, but to deaf ears. 
> 
> =20 
> 
> As I have stated in my previous note to you, we will very likely be = 
> unable 
> to save this parrot. We must individually demand that PetSmart step = 
> out, 
> not only of the Exotic Bird market, but from the exploitation of all = 
> animals 
> once and for all. To allow PetSmart to continue to market animals is as = 
> bad 
> as watching a crime take place and being silent. The one thing PetSmart 
> understands best is the loss of your business. I urge you to write them = 
> of 
> your intention to take your business elsewhere until they formally tell = 
> the 
> public that they will no longer be selling animals of any kind in their 
> stores. I beg you to pass this letter to your friends and family asking 
> them to do the same. Below you will find the address to the PetSmart 
> Corporate Office along with the names of those who can make this happen. 
> Please, please take the time to help put an end to this senseless 
> exploitation of defenseless animals. 
> 
> =20 
> 
> Thank you for your help, 
> 
> =20 
> 
> Merilyn E. Goeltz 
> 
> 8501 Cartwright Lane 
> 
> Knoxville, TN 37923-5554 
> 
> 865-693-4264 
> 
> goeltz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> 
> Corporate Information=20 
> 
> Corporate Offices=20 
> 19601 North 27th Avenue=20 
> Phoenix, AZ 85027=20 
> (623) 580-6100=20 
> 
> Executive Officers 
> 
> Philip L. Francis=20 
> Chairman=20 
> and Chief Executive Officer=20 
> PetSmart, Inc. =20 
> 
> Robert F. Moran=20 
> President=20 
> and Chief Operating Officer=20 
> 
> Scott A. Crozier=20 
> Senior Vice President,=20 
> General Counsel and Secretary=20 
> 
> Barbara A. Fitzgerald=20 
> Senior Vice President,=20 
> Store Operations=20 
> 
> Kenneth T. Hall=20 
> Senior Vice President,=20 
> Chief Marketing Officer=20 
> 
> =20 
> 
> =20 
> 
> =20 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== 
> 
> The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with 
> first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. 
> You are also required to list the count in which the birds 
> you report were seen. The actual date of observation should 
> appear in the first paragraph. 
> _____________________________________________________________ 
> To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: 
> tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> _____________________________________________________________ 
> To unsubscribe, send email to: 
> tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. 
> ______________________________________________________________ 
> TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
> Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) 
> endorse the views or opinions expressed 
> by the members of this discussion group. 
> 
> Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN 
> wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> 
> _____________________________________________________________ 
> Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
> web site at http://www.tnbirds.org 
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
> Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp 
> 
> _____________________________________________________________ 
> 
> 

=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
You are also required to list the count in which the birds
you report were seen.  The actual date of observation should
appear in the first paragraph.
_____________________________________________________________
To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
_____________________________________________________________ 
To unsubscribe, send email to:
tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
______________________________________________________________
  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
                 wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

_____________________________________________________________
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp

_____________________________________________________________

Other related posts: