Therapy Birds

[mdg1109]

So I have heard of Therapy dogs and cats and such, but is there such a thing as therapy birds. I think that taking a well socialized bird into help children that have been through traumatic situations, or in to nursing homes to visit people would be very therapeutic.

Are there therapy bird programs?

[Sucre]

I've never heard of any, but can see how it might work, in some cases. (My U2 made ME need therapy, so that's something to think about!)

One thing I have really noticed with our flock, though. Many people seem to have a fear of birds. My DIL is terrified of them, tenses up when our tamest sweetest ones land on her, and my SIL also exhibits fear around them. My son and daughter do just fine with them, as does my 4 year old grandson. Just thinking that it might not be the best choice for many, but with the little sweethearts I have now, I certainly feel like they are therapeutic for me after a long day of dealing with patients at work.

[mdg1109]

We have neighbors that are terrified of birds! I do not understand it but try not to judge because everyone is terrified of something, in my case it is snakes.

You bring up a good point Kim, some people are just not bird people. I agree with you that after a long day of stressful situations I find spending time with Charlie to be very relaxing and enjoyable.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Irrational fears are often forced into children by neurotic parents. I think that is why we have grandparents - to teach rationality and that stamping in puddles is natural for children.

[Robyn]

We have neighbors that are terrified of birds! I do not understand it.

You think that's bad I have a coworker who is terrified of whales. Like how often do you interact with a whale that causes you to be terrified of them.

Birds would make a bad therapy animal. People are so unpredictable and older people think they know everything so they are much more likely to do something to spook the bird and cause them to get bit. Also it's really easy to get a bird sick so personally I wouldn't chance it.

[spiritbird]

I have posted this before but it seems fit to post in this thread again. Its a wonderful read!

[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

[Lady]

:th_iagree:

[mdg1109]

I have posted this before but it seems fit to post in this thread again. Its a wonderful read!

[Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

Dianne it is an amazing read, thank you for posting it, I also shared it on Facebook!

I love how intelligent birds are, they seem to know things that we do not, I am amazed by birds....

[lolsavannahh]

In my opinion, I don't think 'therapy birds' should be a thing. Considering how needy and intelligent they are, we shouldn't rely on THEM.. it should be the other way around. Most people who would need a therapy animal ( comfort wise ) would have little to no luck getting any affection out of a bird. They don't want to cuddle 24/7 like a dog or cat could.. and they bite hard when they're done or when you push their buttons.. unlike a therapy dog. This would make the person angry, or feel sad and left out because their bird doesn't want to do whatever they want them to do.

I think birds can make good pets.. but not therapy pets.

[Lady]

Idk, I think it could work in certain situations, just look at the link spiritbird supplied. It worked in that case and I'm sure others. Dogs and cats work in most cases but so can horses and even small mammals. I don't claim to know but I do agree that there are different strokes for different folks.

[Robyn]

While it may work in rare cases just think about people as a whole. Look how many people rehome their birds because they are too whatever the owner didn't know to expect. You can go on Craigslist and any given day I see MULTIPLE people begging for a free dog to be a therapy pet but they don't want to teach the dog to fulfill their needs they want it to already come pre-trained, vaccinated and fixed they also want this free dog to come with everything it will ever need. Do you think that dog would be going to a good home? Probably not and I flag every free dog begger I see. Now just think if it became a thing for birds. Birds are more difficult to take care of than dogs, but they are smaller more portable and can talk and WILL bite. That being said most people who want a service animal can't handle loud noises. Birds are loud. Just imagine if therapy birds became a thing with the thousands of irresponsible owners already you would have more birds who "accidently" fly off and more birds rehome because the owner just can't handle a bird.

[Mare]

It definitely takes a certain mindset to believe that birds can be therapeutic. I, for one, am convinced. The article that Dianne posted opened my mind to more than I even knew! There are so many effed up people out there, from traumas that they have lived through and birds that have similar issues. I am sincerely a believer in therapy birds.

I know for a fact, my birds are empathetic when there is sadness.

[Penny]

My daughter always said that she thought a larger (well trained obviously) parrot would make a great animal assistant for the deaf and hard of hearing due to their natural tendencies.

[Robyn]

My daughter always said that she thought a larger (well trained obviously) parrot would make a great animal assistant for the deaf and hard of hearing due to their natural tendencies.

While that may be the person who would have to train them would be the owner or else it can take years for the bird to actually do what it's trained to do while it's adjusting and deciding weather or not it likes the new person it's living with.

As for mares point about birds being sympathetic it's not the birds that are the concern here it's the people. People are terrible and if therapy birds became a thing it would be the birds suffering because they are not the stuffed animal people expect them to be

[Mare]

Robyn, did you read the article that Dianne had shared? There truly are instances where birds can be therapeutic...I'm not talking about my experiences. Please read the article, it's awesome.

[Penny]

I think it's kind of sad that the first assumption is that people are going to be awful. Seeing eye dogs have enriched many deserving people's lives and in the cases I have been exposed to, the dogs life was enriched as well. The logistics may not be possible with parrots for the hearing impaired, and if they are I don't know how to work it. It was my daughter's thought originally and she's not even in high school yet, so I'm not going to discourage the thought just now. :th_smile:

[Mare]

Penny, this is such a bizarre, off the wall thought..I don't know how many folks watch "Dancing with the Stars". This just last season had an amazing man who was born totally deaf from birth, fourth generation, totally deaf. There is a feeling beyond words that unite us and feelings.

[Penny]

Penny, this is such a bizarre, off the wall thought..I don't know how many folks watch "Dancing with the Stars". This just last season had an amazing man who was born totally deaf from birth, fourth generation, totally deaf. There is a feeling beyond words that unite us and feelings.

I've caught a couple of episodes here and there.. the dancing is amazing! I may have to watch to see how the music moves a deaf man. I bet it's just beautiful!

[Mare]

There is no music for this man, it is him feeling off his partner, it's so beautiful to watch.

[Robyn]

Dogs don't scream because they aren't getting the attention they want dogs don't bite because you petted them wrong dogs don't sing because the sun is going up or down. Dogs will more often than not be friends with anyone. Birds will not. Birds will scream for any reason they want birds will bite for reasons the owner doesn't always understand. Birds are loud when the sun comes up and goes down. I find it funny that you guys always say birds aren't for everyone or even most people but once the idea of a therapy bird gets brought up you guys want to send every bird out there.

[Robyn]

There is no music for this man, it is him feeling off his partner, it's so beautiful to watch.

That's also not entirely true people who were born deaf can feel the music vibrating in the floor as there sense of touch is more acute than that of a hearing person. My uncle was born deaf with zero hearing. Zero hearing is actually rare most deaf people have some level of hearing though very little. Flipping lights and stomping is how we have to get his attention sometimes. If he's in a car and a song has a lot of base he will turn the radio down because he doesn't understand that just because the vibration is strong doesn't always mean the music is loud.

[kendrafitz]

My daughter always said that she thought a larger (well trained obviously) parrot would make a great animal assistant for the deaf and hard of hearing due to their natural tendencies.
Penny - I just giggled, but not at the general idea your daughter had. Just because I have lost a good amount of hearing from Rosie screaming. So not only can they help the deaf, but they can help make a person deaf as well! [emoji23]

[spiritbird]

We can certainly respect each others opinions on this subject. I do know and believe that birds, with the proper training, can provide love and whatever else is needed for those unfortunate humans that have both physical and psychological stresses that interfere with daily life. Birds are highly initiative to humans. Such sensitivity can be harnessed and birds, like other species, can be trained to use these abilities to help individuals with psychological or emotional disabilities. We have several organizations that do this.
Gifted Wings Ministry ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]), a Tulsa, Oklahoma non-profit organization that facilitates visits and educational presentations with rescued birds was co-founded in 2000 by Joyce Legere and Maureen Horton-Legere. Understanding the beneficial effects of interacting with birds they began On a Wing & A Prayer, a program that brings birds into many different community facilities, including nursing homes. You can read several examples of bird assisted therapy on the internet. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

[Robyn]

Again it's not the birds that are the problem it's the people. When did it suddenly become a great idea for everyone to have a bird? Not everyone especially "broken" people can handle a bird

[mdg1109]

Idk, I think it could work in certain situations, just look at the link spiritbird supplied. It worked in that case and I'm sure others. Dogs and cats work in most cases but so can horses and even small mammals. I don't claim to know but I do agree that there are different strokes for different folks.


I agree Alice, I use to ride horses and the barn where I boarded my horse belonged to a women who ran a therapy program for kids. The horses brought something out in the kids that helped them be able to talk about the things that had happened and also built their trust back up. It amazes me at what animals are capable of doing for humans without asking anything in return!

[mdg1109]

We cabncerntly respect each others opinions on this subject. I do know and believe that birds, with the proper training, can provide love and whatever else is needed for those unfortunate humans that have both physical and psychological stresses that interfere with daily life. Birds are highly initiative to humans. Such sensitivity can be harnessed and birds, like other species, can be trained to use these abilities to help individuals with psychological or emotional disabilities. We have several organizations that do this.
Gifted Wings Ministry ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]), a Tulsa, Oklahoma non-profit organization that facilitates visits and educational presentations with rescued birds was co-founded in 2000 by Joyce Legere and Maureen Horton-Legere. Understanding the beneficial effects of interacting with birds they began On a Wing & A Prayer, a program that brings birds into many different community facilities, including nursing homes. You can read several examples of bird assisted therapy on the internet. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

Thank you Dianne for posting this. My general question was if there are any programs that have therapy birds. Your link and the information above showed me that there are and that birds like other animals can help people that might have gone through something traumatic.

I totally agree with Mare, birds can be empathetic. Charlie even in the short time we have had him knows when I am having a bad day, just like I can tell from his mood if he is going to have a good day or a bad day.

Robyn I do not think anyone here is saying that everyone should have a bird. There are people that do not like birds, and there are birds that do not like people because of situations that they have been put in. I was by no means saying that we should rush out and send birds to people that need therapy. I do know that if given the chance some people might be able to work through whatever their situation might be because of birds intelligence and willingness to try if given the right environment.

[Mare]

Again it's not the birds that are the problem it's the people. When did it suddenly become a great idea for everyone to have a bird? Not everyone especially "broken" people can handle a bird


Robyn, I'm guessing that the gist of this story is not "owning" a therapy bird, just having "exposure" to one.

[Sucre]

All of my animals serve as therapy for me, on many different levels. I have my own zoo - 9 birds, 4 dogs (at the moment I have a foster), and 2 cats.

Growing up, I wasn't allowed to have pets. My father was mentally ill and very cruel, and every pet I managed to bring home mysteriously disappeared. When I was old enough to realize what he was doing, I stopped acquiring them. The only thing that was safe from him were two BeBe (? spelling) parrots that were given to HIM by a friend of his - they cussed like sailors so he found them amusing. He never let them out of their cage, so I would sneak and do it after school before he came home from work. One day, they were just gone. When I was a teenager, he started working out of state, which was the best thing that ever happened to our family. He was only home on the weekends. I got my own first birds - two little budgies. I kept them in my bedroom and covered the cage when he was home so they wouldn't irritate him and disappear like everything else did.

Now, I do rescue on a very small scale because of life in general and time restraints. Some pass through my home onto a forever home, some stay. I had a rough life, a terrible childhood, and my life is stable now, so I pass on what I can to animals in need. I am sure I have PTSD, but never been diagnosed. I am soothed by many things, all are animals. For 2 seasons, I had 2 yearling deer that would come up to my yard (for cat food, no less) and walk all around me. I can watch a well planned aquarium for hours, one of the most soothing things in the world. I can pick up my little rescued terrier who was abused for 3 years before I found him and has fear aggression and bites everyone except me - I can hold him tight and we feed off of each others emotions, but at that moment, it's always peace. I love the sound of my birds. I find it very soothing every morning to wake to their chattering and singing, such as it is with conures and lovebirds. I don't cover their cage at night because I need that wake up call, it's a beautiful way to start your day. At the end of a long work day in a busy doctors' office, I love coming home to them.

So much cheaper than a psychiatrist or medication!!!

I don't think birds are for everyone. I would NEVER recommend a large parrot to anyone without large bird experience, lesson learned the hard way and it broke my heart. But, I do think that I would love to do as the person in the article did - I would love to go plop myself down for an hour a day in the middle of a bird sanctuary. They are broken, and healing together, and I think it's beautiful. I do believe they provide therapy, but as for one on one, I think it's when that bird choses a person, as always. I am not certain that you can train / force a bird to be a therapy pet.

Very interesting topic!

[Mare]

Aww..Kim, you have my heart. I'm so sorry about you having to deal with a rough childhood, thank you for sharing that.

I love your whole post. Birds are so soothing on so many levels.

[spiritbird]

Robyn I don't think the organisation gives the birds to the people in need. The birds remain in foster care or shelters.

[lolsavannahh]

I think, like in the link, Therapy birds can be great... if the person does not OWN this animal, and it can get the proper care from another human. Like horses and such, just visiting and hanging out can be enough for most people, even if it's daily.. but if a person needs this therapy animal, I think it should come to them whenever it is convinient for them, and not all the time even when they are sad or stressed if you understand what I'm saying.

Considering birds nature to bite and scream, a person who needs a therapy animal would not enjoy this and it may make them feel worse, or accidentally injure the bird mentally or physically because they don't know how to rationally think these things through.

I think birds can be very comforting and almost therapeutic to people.. but shouldn't be 'therapy' birds.. They should be allowed to be birds.. be allowed to scream and bite and do un-therapeutic things whenever they please! Nash can be VERY loving, and if my friend or family member came to me and him to calm down in times of stress I would be more than happy to do that.. but for a person who needs an animal like this, they should stick with domesticated animals like dogs and cats.

If you need a therapy animal.. let it be something that is calmer all the time, and domesticated. I understand people who have some stress and have/want a bird.. that's absolutely fine, but I'm talking about people with mental or physical illnesses' and their capability to care for such a complex animal such as a bird. Lots of people expect them to be stuffed animals like dogs but they just aren't most of the time. They can be therapeutic, yes, very much so, but for someone with a mental or physical illness, they should be owned by someone else, and allowed to be visited by that person.

Hope this makes sense!!

[mdg1109]

All of my animals serve as therapy for me, on many different levels. I have my own zoo - 9 birds, 4 dogs (at the moment I have a foster), and 2 cats.

Growing up, I wasn't allowed to have pets. My father was mentally ill and very cruel, and every pet I managed to bring home mysteriously disappeared. When I was old enough to realize what he was doing, I stopped acquiring them. The only thing that was safe from him were two BeBe (? spelling) parrots that were given to HIM by a friend of his - they cussed like sailors so he found them amusing. He never let them out of their cage, so I would sneak and do it after school before he came home from work. One day, they were just gone. When I was a teenager, he started working out of state, which was the best thing that ever happened to our family. He was only home on the weekends. I got my own first birds - two little budgies. I kept them in my bedroom and covered the cage when he was home so they wouldn't irritate him and disappear like everything else did.

Now, I do rescue on a very small scale because of life in general and time restraints. Some pass through my home onto a forever home, some stay. I had a rough life, a terrible childhood, and my life is stable now, so I pass on what I can to animals in need. I am sure I have PTSD, but never been diagnosed. I am soothed by many things, all are animals. For 2 seasons, I had 2 yearling deer that would come up to my yard (for cat food, no less) and walk all around me. I can watch a well planned aquarium for hours, one of the most soothing things in the world. I can pick up my little rescued terrier who was abused for 3 years before I found him and has fear aggression and bites everyone except me - I can hold him tight and we feed off of each others emotions, but at that moment, it's always peace. I love the sound of my birds. I find it very soothing every morning to wake to their chattering and singing, such as it is with conures and lovebirds. I don't cover their cage at night because I need that wake up call, it's a beautiful way to start your day. At the end of a long work day in a busy doctors' office, I love coming home to them.

So much cheaper than a psychiatrist or medication!!!

I don't think birds are for everyone. I would NEVER recommend a large parrot to anyone without large bird experience, lesson learned the hard way and it broke my heart. But, I do think that I would love to do as the person in the article did - I would love to go plop myself down for an hour a day in the middle of a bird sanctuary. They are broken, and healing together, and I think it's beautiful. I do believe they provide therapy, but as for one on one, I think it's when that bird choses a person, as always. I am not certain that you can train / force a bird to be a therapy pet.

Very interesting topic!

Kim, thank you for sharing. I too feel the same way about aquariums, there is something very soothing about them. I think they remind me of the beach, the calming lull of the water, the peaceful feeling watching the fish swim. I too also find the birds chattering a happy noise. We have 3 parakeets that we had before we got Charlie, I love listening to them chatter and sing throughout the day, I find it comforting.

Birds are not for everyone, that I also agree with. I think for those of us that have developed a relationship with our birds (fids) it is a once in a lifetime gift.

[Pudgerigar]

Again it's not the birds that are the problem it's the people. When did it suddenly become a great idea for everyone to have a bird? Not everyone especially "broken" people can handle a bird

I'm honestly exceptionally miffed at you describing people as "broken". People with disabilities are not broken. I am not broken. And my disabilities do not exclude me from taking a care role for others, birds included. To me saying birds should never be therapy animals because disabled people may lapse in their care... how is that different from a dog, exactly? And often enough, disabled people do not live alone and are not solely responsible for the animal's care.

Different animals have different areas they mesh with. The notable uses I've seen therapy birds take are as companions for people with severe anxiety, social anxiety especially. Parrots, being upright of posture and having very distinct wills and personalities, can give a very anxious person a sense of not being alone, that someone is there who has their back.

This isn't something I make a habit of disclosing, but I have borderline personality disorder, very severely. I dissociate when stressed, and sometimes after prolonged periods of stress I can have psychotic episodes where I have auditory hallucinations and have difficulty figuring out whether the world I am living in is real.

A sharp bird bite or screech can snap me right out of that. The presence of my birds, beings independent from me, can cement my reality. Knowing that I have responsibility to something other than myself, that I MUST be there for my birds because only I can be, helps my brain fight harder against episodes. My birds' natural sleep cycles and noise keep me from laying in bed for days in a depressive slump. Their dietary needs help me overcome disordered eating, since I can't avoid food or the kitchen.

None of this takes away from them, I am not having them do anything other than be themselves. They help me by their very natures and I don't see how that can be a bad thing. I'd keep them and love them if I was neurotypical and no one would bat an eye. I consider their therapeutic effect a bonus.

Sorry for the attitude I'm just... really tired of people acting like disabled folks are selfish for keeping pets.

[Robyn]

Did I ever say disabled people are broken no I did not I used the word broken in quotation marks to describe people who use therapy animals as that is how it was described earlier in the thread like it or not somebody with an anxiety disorder or somebody who is actually autistic not just diagnosed autistic because their parents can't be bothered to be parents and discipline them cannot handle a large parrots screams. That bird will end up staying in a cage it's entire life because of it. Or it will be rehome multiple times. Like it or not NOT EVERYONE IS QUALIFIED TO OWN A BIRD. Not to mention if you bothered to read any of my other post I already pointed out how a dog is different. But here I'll do it again maybe you'll be bothered to actually read it

DOGS DO NOT SING AT SUNRISE AND SUNSET

DOGS DO NOT SCREAM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY WANT WHEN THEY WANT IT

DOGS ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO BITE THAN A BIRD DOES AND UNLESS YOU STUDY YOUR BIRDS BODY LANGUAGE YOU WON'T KNOW HOW TO PREDICT THAT YOUR BIRD IS READY TO BITE. EVEN THEN YOU WILL STILL GET BIT.

Be as miffed as you want I don't care because my concern is not to baby you my concern is for the birds because once again not everyone should own one.

[PlaxMacaws]

Interesting discussion. I think there's a couple of things going on here. Some of you seem to be inferring that other members have suggested companion parrots should be available as therapy animals to any physically or mentally disabled person. Whereas some of you are stating that companion parrots could be therapeutically beneficial to such individuals as long as they were managed by someone who knows the birds, has trained them for such an interactive role, and who perhaps brings them to therapy sessions as needed. Those are two vastly different situations.

I think there are a number of reasons that the former could not work for every disabled person. I say this because there exist a great many varying physical and/or mental disabilities in this world which folks are suffering from. Importantly, among those myriad conditions the case instance manifestations can range from mild to incredibly severe. Some physical disabilities are extensive to the point that a separate person would be required at all times to oversee proper care for a resident bird. Similarly, certain mental disabilities involve challenges that may be so extreme it would be impossible for the sufferer alone to adhere to the schedules and planning necessary for maintained health and safety of a resident bird. And then beyond those concerns it's important to realize that some mental conditions involve a low to nonexistent ability to feel empathy for animals. That would clearly not be a good situation for a pet bird!

As for the latter, I think it's possible given the right situation and the right people (and certainly the right birds). I've read through this thread and I'd like to note that each of you has conveyed some valid points. The bottom line for me seems to be that providing companion birds for human therapy should always depend upon the situation and the participants. Given certain situations I would say absolutely not! Reasonably, I don't think we can make a blanket call on this one though. However, playing it safe would be simply not using companion birds for human therapy in any situation. But opinions are the reason for this discussion, and I think some people may truly benefit therapeutically from these amazing feathered creatures :)

[Pudgerigar]

Did I ever say disabled people are broken no I did not I used the word broken in quotation marks to describe people who use therapy animals as that is how it was described earlier in the thread like it or not somebody with an anxiety disorder or somebody who is actually autistic not just diagnosed autistic because their parents can't be bothered to be parents and discipline them cannot handle a large parrots screams. That bird will end up staying in a cage it's entire life because of it. Or it will be rehome multiple times. Like it or not NOT EVERYONE IS QUALIFIED TO OWN A BIRD. Not to mention if you bothered to read any of my other post I already pointed out how a dog is different. But here I'll do it again maybe you'll be bothered to actually read it

DOGS DO NOT SING AT SUNRISE AND SUNSET

DOGS DO NOT SCREAM BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY WANT WHEN THEY WANT IT

DOGS ARE FAR LESS LIKELY TO BITE THAN A BIRD DOES AND UNLESS YOU STUDY YOUR BIRDS BODY LANGUAGE YOU WON'T KNOW HOW TO PREDICT THAT YOUR BIRD IS READY TO BITE. EVEN THEN YOU WILL STILL GET BIT.

Be as miffed as you want I don't care because my concern is not to baby you my concern is for the birds because once again not everyone should own one.


Okay seriously, chill. Please.

Did you honestly just use the "parents aren't disciplining their kids and they cry autism" line? You just lost all credibility.

Honestly all the situations you are talking about weren't even brought up as areas a parrot could be therapeutic. They're either a) not owned and cared for by the disabled person or b) were already cared for by the disabled person, a therapeutic effect was noticed (bird was not obtained for that purpose) and they sought certification after the fact.

And the fact is you are talking over ACTUAL disabled people with ACTUAL experience with birds. Two of the people I look up to most in the avian world are a married couple I'm friends with, an autistic man and his wife who has severe anxiety disorder. Your assumption that neurotypicals are any better equipped to handle birds is observably false. Plenty of neurotypical people have abused birds and plenty of disabled people keep them very well.

Me and my crazy self and my autistic wife will be over here with our healthy, happy, well-trained birds, thanks. Never asked you to baby anyone, just treat disabled people like human beings, please.

[Robyn]

Believe what you want so you know 1 person who is autistic and handles their bird well. I see MULTIPLE people with autism rehoming their birds on other forums all the time because they can't handle the noise a bird makes. But sure go ahead give them all birds because you know one person who is able to handle it

[Pudgerigar]

Actually I know six, but I mentioned two. One is my wife so you can see why I regard that one highly.

I see multiple neurotypical people rehoming their birds because they can't handle the noise, and?

AGAIN, no one EVER said ANYTHING about doling out birds to 'spergs like candy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[wingman]

You know Robyn ,my daughter has downs syndrome and the birds love her and you know my wife had a stroke at the age of 41 and the birds love her.

[kendrafitz]

I don't like to get involved in controversy, at all. But it just seems like we have two people with strong differing opinions. Which is fine, we can all have our opinions as long as we are respectful of each other.

I personally think it would be situational. Just like most things in life, you can't make a blanket judgement. Love the article and the therapy everyone, birds included is getting in that situation.

[plax]

It's important to realize that strong feelings concerning a topic like this one do not stem from initially bad intentions. Instead, such feelings stem from our personal experiences and observations, as well as our desire to curtail catastrophe and hardship upon others. And that goes for both sides of the issue in this case! In other words, each of you wants the best outcome for disabled people and pet birds but feels so very passionate in your views concerning an answer that the opposite opinions may be interpreted as hostility and intentional rudeness. Please understand that everyone here means well... it's just that deeply felt personal feelings among folks tend to escalate at times. None of us should attempt to invalidate the experiences of another whose actions are noble and genuine, even when we vehemently disagree with their reasoning. After all, we have not worn their shoes. Blanket views are all too often erroneous.

I am closing this thread.