McCloud woman has passion for helping birds

Shareen Strauss in her bird room in McCloud, where she cares for sick, unwanted and problem birds that people in the community bring to her. Photo: Gene EagleMcCloud, Calif. — Shareen Strauss of McCloud has always had a passion for wild animals. As a child she and her older sister Lori always brought home strays or unwanted animals to nurture. Their love for animals grew as they did. 

In 1982, Lori and her husband Bob Morris started Hope Ranch Animal Rescue, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in Malibu. With Strauss’s help they began rescuing unwanted and abused animals. Over the years they have rescued, rehabilitated and placed horses, dogs, llamas, guinea pigs, and other animals into new homes.  

Life-changing situations brought Strauss to McCloud in January 2000, and within a week a cockatoo named “Dakota,” was brought to her. 

“The bird had no feathers, had bad behavioral problems, hated men and had issues with strangers,” said Strauss. “Today she is fully feathered and is loving and affectionate.”

Strauss said, “After that, little by little, one by one, people began bringing sick, unwanted and problem birds to me.”

Over the past nine years she has accumulated over 30 birds who have a room of their own and, though they live in cages, several are free to fly about the room and get exercise during daylight hours.

“The birds are very vocal and do make a lot of noise during the day when I am feeding them and when I first come home from work or when people come over,” Strauss said. “But when we are just hanging out together or at night, they are quiet and content.”

She has species ranging from love birds to cockatiels, parakeets and cockatoos to macaws.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to take in an animal and build trust and rehabilitate them and watch them grow and become healthy again,” she said. 

She offers some tips for anyone interested in having a pet exotic bird: “Carefully consider such things as how much time you can devote to a bird and how much noise you can tolerate. It is important you make a good decision and find a bird that will be a good match for your personality, lifestyle and household.”

“Many of the larger beautiful, exotic birds such as macaws are bought on impulse because someone wants a colorful, talking bird or because they think these birds are cool pets,” said Strauss. “Most of these people don’t know what they are getting into. After they get the bird home they are faced with a loud, messy, expensive animal that lives many years and is very demanding.”

“People get overwhelmed, burdened or just don’t have the time for them, and in the process the birds start getting anti-social behavior, and can become mean or stressed, to the point of pulling out their own feathers." 

"Birds are very sensitive and are social creatures. Many people don't really realize that." 

"In the process of taking these unwanted birds and caring for their individual needs it has become somewhat expensive, plus I am running out of room to house them," she said.

"I am now promoting these birds, to place them in healthy homes. Anyone wishing to adopt, sponsor a bird, or make a donation towards medical care and feed, can call me at 530-964-2524." 

For almost 20 years Shareen Strauss has worked in veterinarian medicine as a tech. She also has ten years under her belt managing a ranch and she has extensive knowledge in animal behavior, nutrition, and other needs of exotic, domestic and farm animals. Shareen Strauss welcomes visitors, gives demonstrations, and offers her expertise for those having, or thinking about purchasing an exotic bird. And for those that are considering adopting or sponsoring any other animal, visit her non-profit organization's web site: hoperanchanimalrescue.com.