4th of July sees Parrots rescued from shocking conditions

A Tampa parrot rescue center assisted authorities this week, when a large number of parrots were rescued in Highlands County. Florida Parrot Rescue of Tampa took in 10 of the birds, with the remainder going to an animal rescue group in Orlando. Karen Atwood of FPR said that they had taken 10 large and medium parrots after being asked for help by Jeff McLain of Parrots as Pets Rescue in Orlando.

View Photos: parrot hoarding scene

According to Ms.Atwood Mr. McLain received a call July 3rd, from a couple who managed a property in Highlands County telling him that there were some birds on the property that need rescuing. The couple told him that there were more than 20 live birds and a number of dead ones. Mr McLain called FPR to ask for assistance. When contacted today, FPR representatives said “PAPR is a smaller, fairly new rescue, but FPR has a network of over 85 volunteers and foster homes spread over the state of Florida.FPR is a 5013c, non-profit, all volunteer run rescue, we have no paid staff or officers.”

FPR agreed to help, and volunteers Karen Atwood, Jennifer Van Curen, who is the FPR East Coast VP, and Jake & Nicole Bennett, two of FPR's fosterers met Mr. McLain at the property the next day, Monday July 4th.

The volunteers were shown where the birds had been kept, after seeing that the live birds had food and water. Ms. Atwood said that the property was owned by an elderly lady who has MS and a heart condition. She had hired the couple to manage the property on her behalf. Part of the property had been rented to the owner of the birds.

The parrot rescue volunteers were shown to the 12x12 “shed” in which the birds had been kept. The wire shed had been covered with a tarpaulin, which allowed no air circulation. When the property managers pulled back the tarp, they found the temperature inside the shed to be 115 degrees. They removed the live birds and called Animal Services. When they got no reply from Animal Services, they called Jeff McLain.

The property managers were advised to call the Sheriff’s department, and a deputy arrived shortly after the call was made. The deputy called in Animal Services, who stated that they did not have the facilities to house the surviving birds, and if the Sheriff agreed, it would be ok for FPR and PAPR to take them. Karen Atwood describes how the volunteers began the actual rescue of the birds.

"The sheriff then called a crime scene investigator who came out and took a lot of pictures and taped off the scene where the birds were found. During that time, we began to line up transport cages for the birds.  We then took one bird out at a time, did a brief physical exam and placed the bird in a carrier. By 3pm we were finally ready to leave with the birds. The birds are now being cared for properly in clean cages with fresh food and water and are all currently being seen by veterinarians. PAPR has 17 of the birds and FPR has 10 birds.  In total, there were 15 Quaker parrots, 1 African grey, 1 Severe Macaw, 7 Amazons, 2 Green Cheek Conures and 1 Gold Capped Conure." 

 As you can see in the pictures there were a large number of dead birds in the cages in the shed, and even some in cages with the live birds. The cages were littered with old food, faeces, and the surviving birds were under nourished: Karen Atwood described them as being “in an awful condition”

Jennifer James of FPR reported that the surviving birds are apparently doing well, despite being malnourished. One has a respiratory complaint, and a total of four are receiving treatment in Tampa.

Authorities are searching for the woman who rented the property.

For more information on Florida Parrot Rescue Tampa, including how you can donate, please visit their website at www.floridaparrotrescue.com. or see them on Facebook