Let care of creatures take flight

By Libby Zanker

It has always been my passion to want to volunteer for something I strongly believe in, and I’ve recently had the opportunity to do so right here in DeKalb. I’ve helped out Sandi Madsen, owner and operator of Ollie’s Parrot Perch.

Ollie’s Parrot Perch boards people’s companion birds and takes in those that have come from abusive situations or situations in which their owners could no longer take care of them. In this sense, Madsen operates a rescue facility much like a shelter. The only difference is that her focus is on one kind of animal instead of many.

Some of the birds that have come to the facility, for one reason or another, have brought with them certain issues or “baggage” that no longer make them desirable as pets. This is often the result of a pure lack of knowledge on the owner’s part. Some people just don’t know how much more of a responsibility parrots can be than, say, a dog or a cat.

The truth is, mature parrots are about as intelligent as two-year-old children and thus tend to act like them their entire lives, which can be 80 years or more. Many people who get a parrot assume their cuddly baby will stay that way forever. When that doesn’t happen, they lose patience. One of Madsen’s missions is to educate the public on the proper care of these birds, something many owners, both new and old, may take for granted.

I had the privilege of accompanying her on one of these talks just the other day. A couple that used to own birds asked if Madsen would come out and speak at their 9-year-old daughter’s birthday party. The girl, who was quiet and well-behaved, didn’t want her friends to bring the traditional assortment of gifts but rather asked each of them to bring a donation that would be given to their local animal shelter.

As an animal lover and one who is extremely concerned with what is being done to ensure animals’ welfare, this was particularly inspiring for me. I got a big charge out of seeing the children’s excitement at seeing these wonderful creatures up close.

Hopefully, as these children age, they’ll realize there is much more to our relationship with animals than the sensory stimulation they provide. The birthday girl seemed to have already been aware of this fact.

Parrots especially are interesting because in the right situation, they can make devoted companions. But a lot of people just can’t get past their behaviors (e.g. the noise and the mess) and so a lot of times that kind of a relationship is never given the opportunity to develop.

The thing we have to remember is that they are still wild animals. Unlike dogs or cats, the desire to be wild has not been bred out of parrots completely because there are not enough years of domesticity behind them. It shouldn’t surprise us when they start expressing their true colors – but it does – and the results of our shallowness are seen all too often at places like Ollie’s Parrot Perch.

We should all take a page from this little girl’s book and start thinking about how our actions affect others. Pets provide comfort, companionship and love. We make them a part of our lives so they might serve these needs for us. It’s our responsibly to see that their needs are also met, however unique those needs may be.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.