The Ethics of Rescue
December 28, 1997 - Sybil Erden

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A bird is in need of rescue when it’s life or health are in immediate or on-going danger. Simply stated: Rescuing a Bird is Saving it’s Life.

Examples are: A chronically sick or critically injured bird who is not receiving needed veterinary care. A bird living in seriously dangerous conditions such as being left out in the rain cold in sub-freezing weather without protection from the elements...or living in documentable filth... or without clean water and sustainable food. It is also a rescue when the current owner is physically or mentally abusing the bird, such as locking the bird in a closet or torturing it by hitting, burning or other means.

A bird is not in need of rescue simply because people are moving or no longer want it or don’t vacuum the house as often as you see appropriate. Acquiring a bird in that manner is an adoption.

Rescues can be done from private owners, breeders, brokers or pet stores. Often rescue actually involved the purchase (or I prefer to think of it as "ransoming") of the bird.

While the legitimate argument can be made that by buying a bird from a bad situation we are encouraging the perpetuation of this behavior, my view is somewhat different. I believe that we must save life one at a time and afterwards go back to encourage change through education, through the enactment of humane legislation or through word-of-mouth discouraging of further business with this person or business.

Rescuing birds involves tact, intuition and intelligence. Often in order to rescue a bird, the rescuer must befriend the current owner. One cannot harass, accuse, attack or malign the current owner of the animal and expect change or saving of the bird.

There are several ways to facilitate rescue:

1. Offer assistance and gently educate the owner. Sometimes a person is too old, ill or simply uneducated to understand that what they are doing is not in their bird’s best interest. By taking the time to show them the "better" way of caring for the bird, you may save the bird and truly convert someone to being a good care-giver.
2. If a bird is ill, and the owner will not or cannot take it to the veterinarian due to financial constraints, offer to take it yourself. Either "loan" the money for the care (pay the vet directly) of offer to foster care the bird.
3. Offer to purchase the bird. Find out what they want for the bird and if you cannot afford it, or do not have time/ room for the bird yourself, talk to your friends and breeders you know. Do NOT mention the name of the person to people you do not trust. You do not want it getting around the community that you are "bad mouthing" this person.
4. Use the Internet to raise awareness of the situation but DO NOT name the person, business or store. It definitely will cause problems since someone will begin harassing the owner. If that happens all your work will have been for naught.
5. While doing steps #3 and/or 4, continue to look in on the bird. Monitor the bird’s ongoing condition and "help" as much as possible.

Please remember: There are people out here, around the country, who can help you. We can independently confirm situations. We can help in fund raising for acquisition of a true Rescue Bird. We can help find private homes, or sanctuary situations, for birds in need. We can even, when necessary, help with transportation from one part of the country to another.

There is no "one right way" to facilitate a rescue. But there are wrong ways... The most important things to remember are: Do not act emotionally. Stop and think about the ramifications to the bird's safety before talking or acting.