On Thursday, March 20th, I headed to the Refuge to ask the Director if I could visit Chris. I've not seen her in several weeks. I also took a couple more collars for the birds that I was going to give her.
At first I didn't get past the driveway. An acquaintance was driving out as I was driving in. So we both stopped our vehicles and rolled down our windows to have a chat. While we chatted, my friend kept me apprised of the commotion that my arrival seemed to have produced that was taking place behind me in the parking lot. Both the staff supervisor and and refuge manager were running around seemingly trying to decide what they should do or who should be notified. Shortly however, the Director's husband arrived, and since we were pretty much blocking the driveway, we watched as he expertly backed his truck around both of us and into a parking place near home. He stopped for an informal hello and proceeded across the parking lot into the arms, so to speak, of the refuge manager and staff supervisor, who appeared delighted to greet him. As my friend suggested he didn't appear to know who I am which was rather refreshing.
When my friend noticed "hubby" turning back toward us, she left. LOL I didn't blame her; no one likes comfrontation. I pulled my car over to the side of the driveway, out of the way, opened my door and waited for him. While Lorne's birthday cake melted in the back seat in the sun, I got an earful. Here's what I was told, not in any particular order:
- The Director has much credibility in the community and powerful, well-known friends. She had received that "peace award" right after Jane Goodall had received it. She and "hubby" were meeting with Jane herself next week. I don't stand a chance in this community.
- The Director and her hubby have travelled extensively. There is no refuge like theirs which cost upwards of 3/4 milliion dollars to build. And none are as good.
- There are no global standards for refuges; people who start refuges simply do the best they can.
- The only reason I was not charged with Theft of a bird, namely Bertie, was because the Director couldn't put her hands on the documentation I had signed.
- If I was given control of the refuge I'd never be capable of running it and raising $25,000 a month to keep it going.
- Anyone, like me, who creates an atmosphere of negativity around the refuge, isn't permitted on the property.
- Although I had complained to the BC SPCA, they had visited just last week and found everything to be in order. As a matter of fact they found no evidence of overcrowding and stated that there was room for a lot more parrots yet.
This doesn't sound like much now, but it seemed to take quite awhile to say. My responses, when I was allowed the opportunity to say something, went something like this:
- I come with my own credentials and have much more to offer parrots than sorting the refuge's recycling, cooking potatoes and washing dishes although I'm happy to do all of that and more. That is one of the main reasons that Lorne and I moved across the country to Parksville. Frankly neither the Director or her manager know shit about me and what I'm capable of.
- There are in fact global standards for Arboreal/Perching bird sanctuaries put together by respected members of the global community of animal sanctuaries. The fact that the Director was not invited to participate doesn't mean there are no standards. The next day I sent the link to the Standards to the Director's hubby by e-mail. He had given me his business card for that purpose.
- The only reason the Director couldn't put her hands on the surrender forms for Babe, Bertie and Chris, is because there are no signed surrender forms.
I really wish I'd had a tape recorder. My memory, at least at the moment, is exhausted. I know I didn't say much that I'd have said to anyone else. Somehow it doesn't sit well to tell a man his wife is an unconscionable liar and manipulator. Shrug.
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