Foster Parrots is an amazing organization that provides compassionate long-term care to parrots that have no place left to go. They are loving, caring people who have dedicated their lives to parrots who don't have homes through no fault of their own due to overbreeding. They provide excellent care to their parrots and I couldn't more highly recommend them.
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Foster Parrots & the New England Exotic Wildlife sanctuary is an amazing organization that helps parrots and other displaced exotic animals find a "forever home." I have been volunteering there since 2011 and it is my very favorite place to spend any free time I have! The sanctuary is home to all types of parrots (macaws, cockatoos, amazons, greys, quakers, conures, ringnecks, parakeets, and more) and many of these birds are animals with special needs. The sanctuary staff design special aviaries and habitats to meet the physical, psychological, and social needs of these complex animals and staff and volunteers work tirelessly to make sure all birds receive top-notch care 365 days a year.
Animals come to the sanctuary for a variety of reasons. Some birds at the sanctuary have been rescued from abusive or neglectful situations. Others were surrendered due to changes in the owner's life (including, but not limited to illness, death, loss of home, relocation, and/or financial instability) or because parrots (which are wild animals!) are simply some of the most difficult animals to keep as "pets" in a home setting. A smaller number of birds have been "retired" to the sanctuary by loving guardians who planned ahead to make sure their birds would receive lifelong care at the sanctuary. Because some parrots are happier living in a home setting, Foster Parrots also has an adoption program to ensure that these birds are placed into an environment where they will thrive. I adopted one of these birds, a highly human bonded mini macaw who is incompatible with other parrots.
I really cannot say enough good things about Foster Parrots or the people associated with the organization! Foster Parrots is such a special place and I would highly encourage anyone who wants to learn more about them and the work they do to visit www.fosterparrots.com!
Foster Parrots is the absolute best organization helping not only Parrots but all exotic animals that for a variety of reasons need help. The founders of this group have never lost sight of their mission, they have expanded their programs to education and defending the rights of all living creatures. They always make themselves available to advise and educate any person that needs help caring for their companion birds. Whether an exotic needs lifetime care or just transitional to find a forever home they are there providing their expertise.
The whole issue of pet parrots is fraught with potential difficulty. Foster Parrots is offering sanctuary for unwanted parrots and parrots where the owner can no longer care for their pet. They also are working hard with educational outreach and adoption where it makes sense. A wonderful place with caring and educated folks meeting a need not really met often times. I am grateful for their presence and efforts.
When I first walked into Foster Parrots, Ltd. three years ago for a tour, I burst into tears. It was overwhelming to see so many animals that had lost their homes in some way or another, and to meet such an altruistic group of people. I also knew immediately I was home. As the founder Marc Johnson took me through the facility, he explained all the work they do with humane education, conservation, and rescue for exotic wildlife. In my entire life I had never seen such an operation that brings to light the devastating effect that human greed has created on nature, and the depth of knowledge and wisdom that the organization shares in an effort to bring a more compassionate awareness to the world.
It is very hard to summarize or quantify the impact Foster Parrots has made and continues to make in the lives of so many birds and people. I discovered them almost 10 years ago when I was searching for information about parrots and I came across a PBS special that included Foster Parrots. I even said to myself, one day I am going to go there and meet them in person, and less than three years later, I did. I learned so much from them and spent time volunteering and helping them take care of the animals and building the sanctuary. I have seen first-hand how every single dollar goes directly to the organization; where not a single penny is wasted or spent on anything other than animal care and direct organizational needs. No money is wasted on fancy mailings or extravagant offices or expensive salaries.
One of the main reasons I love them so much is because they not only deal with rescued parrots and other animals in captivity, but they also deal with one of the major problems facing parrots in the wild- the very complicated issue of conservation and poaching. They work with Amerindian tribes in Guyana and give them an incentive to protect the wild parrots from poachers by offering ecotourism trips, which give them a more reliable (and ethical) livlihood to support their families and to preserve their native species and beautiful natural habitat. So there is a human component to this as well. It bothers me when animal breeders and zoos claim that they are participating in conservation efforts, when they are doing no such thing. Foster Parrots is one of the very few organizations that actually do participate actively in conservation efforts and have the proof to back it up.
My hope is that as more people learn about the incredible intelligence and complex emotional lives of parrots, they will understand how inappropriate it is to keep these animals as pets. Respect for animal intelligence other than our own is something humanity as a whole needs to work on developing. A dolphin flourishes in a backyard pool no more than a parrot flourishes in a living room cage. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should.
The stories behind the individual parrots they rescue are often heart-wrenching and horrific. I don't understand how they manage to continue to do what they do without losing all hope in humanity. That they maintain their emotional balance in the face of so much suffering and pain is remarkable and a testament to their utter commitment and love of what they do. Working with them, learning from them, watching them, loving them has changed the very core of who I am and made me a better person.
Review from Guidestar
Foster Parrots, Ltd. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and protection of unwanted and abused companion parrots and other displaced captive exotic animals. Working on many levels to bring critical services to birds and animals in transition, they offer life-long sanctuary care for unadoptable parrots and other exotics at their permanent care sanctuary facility, The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary, and provide adoption services for well-socialized parrots who desire human companionship. Their Educational Initiatives seek to raise standards of care for captive parrots by challenging harmful standards in the breeding industry, and by offering information to help parrots and people live mutually fulfilling lives together. A staunch advocate for parrots as wild animals, Foster Parrots village based conservation work in Guyana helps keep parrots and other animals safe in their natural habitat, and also embodies their ultimate message: Parrots are worth more in the trees than in cages; parrots and all wild animals should be free.