Two years ago on Thanksgiving Harley my harlequin macaw was taken from me in a pit bull attack. He would of been 3 at Christmas and he was a presant for myself after my divorce of 10 year marriage. He was my heart. Today I still grieve but believe he is waiting for me out there somewhere to be reuinted. I believe in reincarnation and lately have been getting a bit of a jab, nudging me to let the universe know I am waiting. I dont know where this will take me and I am sure alot of people out there will shake there heads and call me crazy. Harley is waiting for me so if anyone out there knows of a macaw that needs to be rehomed please let me know and thanks for not laughing at this post too much.

Didnt you just rehome 2 birds?

Kate has a point. You recently posted regarding rehoming your Quaker and Amazon. Have you changed your mind and decided to keep them now?

I too was under the impression you just rehomed 2 birds. My concern as well is do you still have dogs that attack birds? I am not judging btw or trying to cause you any pain I just worry about the safety issues involved in housing birds where dogs are kept that have a history of attacking birds.
Since you miss the macaw so much and if you still have the dog maybe another idea is where you can love lots of macaws by doing some volunteer work at a shelter or rescue. It can be really rewarding and might help fill that void in your heart.

Yes I did just rehome two birds Penelope and Minnie they went to the most wonderful place of Joni for her to find new homes for them. As I explained to her and will explain now yes it sounds strange getting "rid" of two birds then asking for another. I knew in my heart that my time was finished with Penelope and Minnie. I was only ever a temporary home for them and they were never truly mine. There new families are waiting for them and it was time for me to stop being selfish, to let them go to find the new families they are meant to be with. I am a retired veterinary technician of 16 years and have cared for, rehabbed and rehomed many, many birds. To let Penelope and Minnie go out of my life was not a light hearted decsion for me, they were my kids part of my family. I miss them with all my heart but I also know they will soon have the homes they deserve because this is there destiny and my home was not it. I know this like I know that my Harley is waiting for me out there and when the universe decides then he and I will be reunited.



The dog that Harley was killed by was not mine but a stray that came in through a doggie door. The pit ripped him out of mid air in front of me then drug him out to the yard where is was dark as all I could hear was him screaming for help. I kicked the dog and was attacked but got Harley in my arms where he died within minutes. You make it sound as if I am stupid.....allowing a dog to attack my bird please. Now that you have the grisly details perhaps you will not be so quick to judge and remember this could happen to you.

I thought of all places that I could post my feelings about Harley would be on this forum but I see that here is no better than anywhere else. Franky I am disapointed guess I was naive enought to believe that I would be understood here if I spoke from the heart. Thanks for all the "understanding".

I dont know about anyone else but when you only know half the facts it is easy to misunderstand a situation. I hope that you found out who owned the dog. This is yet another reason why I just dont like dog/cat doors, UNLESS its the kind that has the locking thing that unlocks only when your dog or cat comes through them

That would be the absolute worse thing that I could imagine happening to my bird...
I'm so sorry that it happened. I hope you find the "baby" that will fill that empty space for you. My quaker certainly filled an empty space for me and I couldn't imagine anything happening to him.

Be encouraged. It's easy to be misunderstood when there's only a written word with no history or emotions behind it. This is really the most caring bunch of people that I've come across in "cyber-ville."

I've come to learn that on ALL the boards I go to you need info, facts, info facts and more info. The more info the better. It helps put everyone at ease, even me.

What a horrible experience- I'm so sorry for you and for your Harley. I don't think the earlier posts were intended to berate you, only to illicit additional info.
Best of luck to you,
Christy

I'm not going to apologize for inquiring about the birds you already rehomed, especially given the reason why you rehomed your Quaker (to quote you:
).

No one is saying that it was not difficult for you to rehome your two birds, but given that you just have rehomed them (and the Quaker you had for 6 years) and then less then a month later are looking for yet another bird...you have to admit, it is a cause for raised eyebrows.

As an retired animal vet tech, I'm sure you can understand the concern that fellow avian lovers have expressed.

Here is my thought on rehoming an animal bird/dog/cat what ever.. IF and I mean IF the animal is not getting the much needed attention or care then by all means rehome it. Should someone that does this get another animal right away well it depends. I have just returned a guinea pig and yet adopted 2 birds. The reason the guinea pig was returned was he did NOT want to be handled he HATED kids (he belonged to my 7 yr old daughter)so I know he is better off going back to the rescue where we adopted him from (it is a guinea pig rescue only) and they have offered us any of their other piggies but all are the same way so we are waiting til the perfect loving friendly piggy comes in!

There are good reasons for rehoming but I'm a firm believer in taking responsiblity and providing forever homes for pets that you take in. If it is a danger to your or your children, allergies/health issues, or a huge life change that doesn't allow you to provide for them like you should I understand. It's the people that are constantly going through animals to find the 'perfect' one that bothers me.

If you didn't have time for the two that you rehomed has something changed in less than a month to allow you more time? If not then it may not be the right time still for another bird.

It's the people that are constantly going through animals to find the 'perfect' one that bothers me.

That I totally agree w/ and that is why we didnt get another guinea pig right now even though they offered us any of the other ones they have, I know they arent right for us so we will wait for the 'perfect' one. I know of someone whom gets an animal is all gungho over that animal until a new one tickles her fancy then the old one is shoved aside and the new one gets all the attention, and this keeps happening. I have begged her to rehome the tossed aside ones as they deserve the attention that they used to get but she will not do it! An example, she got a dog loved that dog, took it to obedience classes etc.. then got another dog and I honestly have not seen the old dog but I know she still has it because I have heard it barking! And to me I would rather see that dog in a great loving attention giving home then ignored

We all need to remember, that until we've walked a mile in someone else's shoes...we shouldn't judge.

I don't think that anyone was truly condemning you, But I guess some of us just question the overall situation.

Personally, I understand the void you feel when a beloved pet gets killed and the hole it leaves in your heart. I too had a very beloved parrot get killed by my own dog. I still grieve for that bird. And even though I now have many many other parrots none of them can take his place or fill the void that was left.

However, I can also understand the questions that it raises in the fact that you took in two other birds and had one for 6 years and now you've recently rehomed them. With the reason behind it being your work schedule has changed and you felt you weren't giving them the time they needed or deserved. I can also relate to that.

What I don't quite grasp is now you are wanting to adopt a Macaw. And please, I'm not judging you. I'm just trying to offer food for thought and to try and understand your thought process. I guess what I don't understand is if you don't have the time to offer to a quaker and an amazon, what would be the difference with them versus a Macaw.

I understand also that you may have only taken the birds in on a temporary basis in your own mind, but to many peoples way of thinking keeping a bird for 6 years doesn't seem as though it was a temporary thing. Birds don't understand the Time thing. I understand quite well, how you take in a new bird thinking that it will be their forever home, and for what ever reason the personality of a bird and yours just don't click and you find the need to rehome them. I know too well about that, I too have had that happen and after a lot of soul searching decided it was in both the birds and my best interest to rehome it. However, it didn't take 6 years to make that decision.

So the question I'm posing to you is; knowing that you can't replace a lost pet in the way that it will fill the void left. You can show love and give care to others and allow them into your heart but no matter what even the same species will never be the same as the original one that was lost. I'm hoping that you aren't looking to "replace" the one lost, but to make room in your heart for another bird regardless and that it will be a forever thing and even if it doesn't have all the same qualities and personality that your original bird had, that you won't just rehome it after a few years just because its not the same as the first bird.

It can become a viscious cycle for people when they try to replace all the exact traits. It happens a lot because people think that because its the same species it will be exactly the same and it just doesn't work that way. Birds and any other animal are no different than humans; no one is exactly the same and to want them to be the same is setting yourself and the bird up for failure. Its not fair to the animal because they don't understand and the damage it can do to them emotionally is unbelievable. It breaks the trust they have and then its hard for them to bond with the next human because the trust isn't there and so they get passed on to another home etc etc.

So what I'm asking of you is to really do some soul searching as to why you want another macaw. Is it because you have room in your heart for another bird no matter what its personality. That you love the overall characteristics of a macaw and that you aren't just trying replace the lost bird. Also before you get another bird of any type, Stop and look at your work schedule and your life style, will having a macaw truly fit in with it as it is now. And what it might be in 2 years, 5 years 10 years. You owe it to yourself as much as the bird to make sure that it really will work. Because we all know how hard it is on us to give up a pet. Or would it be better to not replace the bird but fill your desire for them by volunteering at a shelter or rescue to fill that void. To get your bird fix.

Good Luck with your decisions.

[quote name='FlossieQ' post='468382' date='Aug 1 2008, 12:24 AM']Yes I did just rehome two birds Penelope and Minnie they went to the most wonderful place of Joni for her to find new homes for them. As I explained to her and will explain now yes it sounds strange getting "rid" of two birds then asking for another. I knew in my heart that my time was finished with Penelope and Minnie. I was only ever a temporary home for them and they were never truly mine. There new families are waiting for them and it was time for me to stop being selfish, to let them go to find the new families they are meant to be with. I am a retired veterinary technician of 16 years and have cared for, rehabbed and rehomed many, many birds. To let Penelope and Minnie go out of my life was not a light hearted decsion for me, they were my kids part of my family. I miss them with all my heart but I also know they will soon have the homes they deserve because this is there destiny and my home was not it. I know this like I know that my Harley is waiting for me out there and when the universe decides then he and I will be reunited.






The dog that Harley was killed by was not mine but a stray that came in through a doggie door. The pit ripped him out of mid air in front of me then drug him out to the yard where is was dark as all I could hear was him screaming for help. I kicked the dog and was attacked but got Harley in my arms where he died within minutes. You make it sound as if I am stupid.....allowing a dog to attack my bird please. Now that you have the grisly details perhaps you will not be so quick to judge and remember this could happen to you.

I thought of all places that I could post my feelings about Harley would be on this forum but I see that here is no better than anywhere else. Franky I am disapointed guess I was naive enought to believe that I would be understood here if I spoke from the heart.











Thanks for all the "understanding".
















I don't know you, So I'm not saying anything about if you should get a bird or not.
But I will tell you onething I have learned. Don't post your feelings on open forum! If you want a bird then get it. It's your life and your life ONLY! Thats justs me 2 cents! But you have to remember we all love our birds and sometimes things don't come across the the computer the way it does in personal! Good Luck! Just think really hard what you want in life! BEFORE YOU GET ANOTHER BIRD!!!

I remember how I felt the day Kiwi was offered to me. The lady who gave her to me didn't want her any more. I was absolutely in shock, knowing someone didn't want her "baby" any more, one of God's creatures that she loved for a while and just all of a sudden wanted to get rid of it.

I felt so bad for Kiwi because she was no longer loved and was totally unwanted, I just said yes without thinking.

Then I thought that maybe it was because her husband had become disabled (he was in pretty bad shape) and she needed to devote more time to his needs.

Then I remembered that I had another friend whose husband was TOTALLY disabled and she had TWO birds.

Then I remembered that that friend's hubby loved those birds like they were his children, so maybe she kept and cared for them for him!

Then I went to pick up Kiwi. That's when I found that this lady had gotten a Grey (what she called a "better" bird). I went into total shock again and couldn't grab poor Kiwi up and get out of there fast enough. Her cage came with her. It was clean and she had a few toys, even a cage cover, but there was no love for her any more. They now had a better bird. Poor Kiwi.

Kiwi is MY baby now and has been for 8 years and will be til one of us dies or has to go to a nursing facility (heaven forbid she go there )

I judged that lady in my heart pretty harshly and it didn't make me feel good. It tore me up inside so I refuse to ever judge anyone like that again. I just have to remember that her trash was my treasure, and smile at my good fortune! I still feel so sorry for Kiwi (the little green monster). I hope she has forgotten what it was like to be put out and sent to a strange place with strange people and be afraid. but I do OK knowing she is now so loved and spoiled she is rotten to the core. It certainly didn't take her long to warm up! The little brat knows she is loved and knows she has us wrapped around her little feather!

I said my 2 cents worth that was not worth even ONE penny, but I will not judge. Trust me, someone will be blessed because of the decision you made.

As you all know... i am rehome Vulcan.. he will be meeting his new owner tomorrow.. And on his way to his new house. I am so scared for the stress its going to cause him.. having to go to a strange place, with strange ppl.. But i agree.. rehoming is okay when its best for the animal. I am so tore up right now.. I hate to see him go. I love him so dearly... and i will miss him everyday of my life.. Will i regret it? No.. i know that its whats best for him... I do feel selfish.. bc i do want to keep him.. but with a baby on the way.. And him already getting less and less of my time.. i know he will be better off in a home that gives him the attention he deserves...

I agree that you should really think about your work schedule.. if that is the reason you rehomed your other two birds.. and if it was so crazy for even a quaker.. a Macaw will long for your attention soo much more than a quaker.. They are bigger, loader, make bigger messes.. so please consider what will be best for the bird..

If indeed your work schedule has changed and things have changed where you can spend the time with the new bird.. by all means.. best of luck.

Also please dont ever try to 'replace' a bird... no bird will ever replace my vulcan.. ever...