As someone who has been involved with parrot rescue for many years, I don't care whether they have a soul or not. I don't think that's the point at all. The point is that the animal is suffering and no one, not even an animal should have to suffer.
In my care right now I have a 30 year old African Grey who was the "child" of a couple her entire life. One day the husband walked out on the bird and the wife. The bird was so distraught that she started tearing her own feathers out and started to mutilate herself. I got a call asking to please take this bird to see if there was something I could do or else the wife was going to have her put down. Goopy has stopped self mutilating but her feathers never grew back because she damaged the feather follicles so badly. She once again is talking, singing, and is a happy girl.
Coco, is an approximately 11 year old Blue & Gold macaw who was dumped on someone's front lawn in a cardboard box in late October in Upstate NY. Her feathers had been ripped out of her body, she had been beaten with a perch and she had been burnt with cigarettes. The owners knocked on someone's door and told the homeowner, who's lawn they placed her on, that she was there (he had a sign on the front of his house that said, The Birdhouse) and that they no longer wanted her, her name was Coco and she was 7 years old. They got into their truck and drove away. I got the call the next day asking me to take her in. She was a mess! She hated to be touched or even looked at, screamed, "Stop it" "Bad Bird", and "Shut up" all the time. She is also naked but to me, she is beautiful! She laughs, sings, dances, she no longer says those things. Tells us she loves us and most of all, she loves to be snuggled and cuddled!
Zeus is an unknown aged Blue & Gold macaw. I got a phone call 2 months after I moved to TN asking me if I would please come to Hendersonville, NC to take in a bird who's foot was bitten off by a dog. Her right nare was also punctured. She had no vet care. The injuries had happened more than a year before. Both her nare and stub were infected. Zeus didn't wanted to be touched screamed and barked. She no longer screams uncontrollably or barks. We can hold and touch her now. She gives kisses and is beginning to talk!
These are just 3 of the rescues that I've taken in and who will have a permanent home with me. I have taken in many, many more. Are they a waste of time? Not in my eyes. 90% of birds that I take in, I find homes for after I provide vet care and get them back to good health. Some will never leave me, though.
And I doubt the animals that you have taken in, the ones that I have taken in, or ones that others have taken in think its a waste of time. What IS a waste of time is arguing with someone who doesn't understand the rescue mentality.
Laurie
