"As you will find from the enclosed, almost 800 people
have joined me in suggesting, in the strongest possible terms, that you refrain
from accepting any more parrots into the Refuge until such time as
it complies with the Standards For Arboreal/Perching Birds Sanctuaries as set
down by the Global Federation For Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). These standards
were established with the input of animal services officers, non-profit
professionals, sanctuary managers, animal protection advocates, and veterinarians…all
with the health and safety of those birds entrusted to our care.
I have been an advocate for parrots in need or at risk
for twenty years. I am a PIJAC certified avian specialist and a student of
animal/parrot behavior. And I was a volunteer at the Refuge for 18
months ending in December 2013. My concerns then and now are not frivolous and
include:
1. The
physical risk to the birds in artificially created flocks of mixed species.
2. Cleanliness
of cages, perches and medical areas.
3. The
risk of injury to both parrots and visitors in areas where they are free to
mix.
4. Parrots
have no access to bathing.
5. Inadequate
washroom facilities for staff, volunteers and visitors.
6. Inadequate
record-keeping.
7. No
quarantine for new surrenders.
8. Inadequate
medical attention.
9. No
training, orientation or manual of policies and procedures for volunteers or
staff.
10. Succession planning.
11. No clear-cut procedures for the treatment of
dead birds, getting autopsies or disposing of bodies.
12. Lack of a
double entry system.
The GFAS standards would eliminate those and any other
concerns associated with the Refuge and ensure the health, safety and
environmental enrichment that the parrots entrusted to your care deserve."
Yours truly,
Patricia
A. Phillips
Since then I've heard nothing from the President or any of the Directors. If the petition has had any impact at all, I'm not aware of it.
What now? Well, the only thing I can think of right now is to concentrate on the area's by-laws. Two by-laws that I was sure were being contravened, at the Refuge are, in fact, not. There are no by-laws dictating the disposal of the bodies of the dead parrots. They can be thrown on the compost heap, buried somewhere on the property or incinerated to name a few possibilities. Also, if the Refuge was being built today, adequate washroom facilities for staff and volunteers would be mandatory. Because the Refuge isn't a new building, they are not mandatory at all. However, there are other practices that I believe are questionable that I now will make a point of checking out further, and bringing to the attention of the appropriate authorities.
I also propose doing some serious writing. Perhaps newspapers and various other publications will be interested in printing them for the general...and specific, public. If not, you'll find it here anyway. More later.
