December 12, 2013 Parrot refuge wins grant for $25,000 from Shell

The World Parrot Refuge has received a $25,000 grant from Shell Canada. The charity plans to use part of the funds for posters to help people understand how important it is to ensure that parrots do not escape, said Wendy Huntbatch, owner and operator of the centre in Coombs. The refuge won the grant by getting enough votes through the Shell Feulling (sic) Change program. Huntbatch said it took a lot of work from local supporters to help win the votes. Visit www.worldparrotrefuge.org for more information on the centre.
                                                     --NEWS Staff


Letter to the Editor

The parrots at the World Parrot Refuge are near and dear to my heart. So, I was absolutely delighted to hear that the World Parrot Refuge won $25,000 from Shell. These competitions are so very important for charitable organizations with little stable funding. With 800+ parrots to feed and otherwise care for, staff to pay, repairs and maintenance and day to day supplies to be purchased, that money won't last long.

That having been said, to suggest that this community needs posters to help citizens understand how important it is to ensure that parrots do not escape, is, in my opinion, a frivolous use of even $5 of that grant, to say nothing of the frivolous use of the time and energy of the supporters who helped the Refuge get that grant.  However, given the stated importance of ensuring that parrots do not escape, perhaps the Refuge should use the grant toward  "a double entry system so that there are two doors (or a door and a safety net) between the birds and freedom at all times. The two elements are never open at the same time." This is one of the Standards For Arboreal/Perching Birds developed by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries . See: http://sanctuaryfederation.org/gfas/for-sanctuaries/standards/ Let's make sure parrots don't escape from the Refuge before we tackle homes in the community.

 

 

Pat Phillips

Parksvile