The Nightmare (Parrot rescue gone wrong)

So I've been meaning to write this thread for a long time, but just haven't had the chance. Now that I have a little bit of time, I can put this into words that make sense. I was so horribly angry when I got back from this nightmarish place that I could barely make sense of it.

Anyways, the lady involved in parrot rescue that I work for has been going to this "Bird Sanctuary" in central New Jersey with friends to help clean, feed, and water the hundred + parrots being kept in dirty TRAILERS. She asked me if I would like to go with her during break and I did because I wanted to to see how bad it really was. My god, was it horrific.

There were about seven trailors in a muddy backyard. You could smell the birds from the driveway. My BARN doesn't even smell like that. The first trailer I entered was filled with cockatoos crammed in cold, dirty cages, the bottoms caked with poop, the waters dried up or mucky, and old stale food. There were no toys in half the cages and any toys there were faded and falling apart. I live in New Jersey, so it's COLD here. These are tropical birds. They need heat. She had small heaters (the kind that often set fires) in some of the trailers, but hardly any were turned on. I was told awhile back one of the heaters malfunctioned and killed ALL the birds in the trailer.

Two or three of the birds had been missing since the last time my friends were there. That means they died. There was a tent filled with hutches of parakeets and cockatiels. These would have been beautiful cages for chickens or pigeons, but not these kinds of birds! It was freezing and a few of them were huddled and looked sick. I took them out and we were going to try and sneak them home, but she got back before we left. :-(

As I was cleaning, some of the birds would come over and let me pet them. They wanted to come out, but they sit in the cold dark ALL day and get no attention. Those of you that own them know they need almost constant attention! Some were stripped bare of feathers and others had self mutilated. One had a prolapsed cloaca and was in so much pain. SHe needs to be put down, but this lady doesn't see a problem with any of it. She is a hoarder, but right now there is nothing we can do about it.

She buys expired parrot food on sale and when she can't get that, she feeds them dog food. There are rats and other vermin in the walls of the trailers and a huge hole int he door of the hospital trailer...a hole big enough for a raccoon to get in and wipe them all out. I would probably say at this point death is better than the situation they are in though.

One of the waters I changed had a piece of chain in it. The chain had rusted and turned what was left of the water into a rusty sludge. That's how often the waters get changed.

We went around and put toys in all the cages, but I just can't even imagine what these birds are going through. I gave My friend the number of an animal control officer who I thought was my friend. This lady sent the SPCA to the "Bird Hell" despite My friend asking her not to send them until they were ready. SPCA went there and didn't even look twice. They said everything was fine. What kind of garbage is that?? According to them, if they have food water and shelter, they cannot do anything. I guess the sick, dying, and suffering birds aren't enough. Right now we are not sure there's much more for us to do other than to keep helping around the place. The other problem is that they have to keep on this sick lady's good side otherwise she will not let them back to help. Short of stealing them, there's nothing we can do. Does anyone have any ideas? Anything would be better than nothing.

When I entered the property, I could feel the suffering from the outside. That's how bad it was. They are not people, but some of them have the intelligence of people. Imagine being locked up in a cold, dark cage with nothing to do for hours on end. I can't even believe people would consider giving their birds to this woman. Ugh, it just makes me sick. How could she not realize how bad it all is?