Nanaimo Daily News July 2015

Police will not pursue theft charges after parrots are taken from  refuge

by Darrell Bellaart

A police investigation involving two birds taken from the World Parrot Refuge has been turned over to the SPCA.
Police said that on Saturday, a person was seen leaving the Coombs facility with two umbrella cockatoos.
Staff contacted the Oceanside RCMP, who investigated the incident.
On Tuesday the RCMP said it will not prosecute, but instead handed the investigation over to the SPCA.
"RCMP have concluded their file, there will be no theft charges," said Cpl. Jesse Foreman of the Oceanside detachment.
"The SPCA has taken over the investigation regarding the parrots."
He said the society will determine "if the birds are going to go back to the parrot refuge centre, and what the course of action is".
The 24,000 square-foot facility provides lifetime care for more than 900 neglected, abused or abandoned birds.
The centre was moved to Coombs from Abbotsford around 2003, during an avian flu scare, said Sue Watkins, a director of the non-profit charitable organization, which employs 22 and provides five volunteer positions.
"I haven't slept for three days and I feel like crying," Watkins said.
"It's been a very stressful few days."
She said she spoke to an SPCA special constable Monday who came by to ask questions for her investigation.
SPCA special constable Angela Mead said she could not comment on the case, referring questions to Leon Davis, Nanaimo SPCA animal shelter manager.
"I know constables started an investigation yesterday. I know the birds are safe with veterinarians," he said.
The woman who allegedly took the birds did not complain about their conditions before the incident.
The refuge, which has received international compassionate awards for animal treatment deals with one or two SPCA investigations a year, and "they have never pressed charges against us," Watkins said.

DarrellBellaart@nanaimodailynews.com
250-729-4235

Letter to the Editor, Nanaimo Daily News

I was gratified to hear from your article that police are not laying charges against the woman who took the Umbrella Cockatoos from the World Parrot Refuge. In fact, she should get a medal for the courage to do what she did. However, your story doesn't go far enough.
This woman is not the first nor is she the only person to get a bird out of the Refuge. And she's not the first or the only person to be concerned about conditions at the Refuge. However, ideas, suggestions, concerns and/or initiative are seen as challenges to their authority and approaches.
I was a volunteer at the Refuge for 18 months and know whereof I speak. And I too, removed my Moluccan Cockatoo from the care of Wendy Huntbatch and her minions.

Pat Phillips
Parksville