My husband and I adopted our parrot from Parrots First almost 9 years ago, and I was so impressed by their diligence to maintaining a safe, healthy, and happy environment for their birds (as well as proper screening for potential adopters and foster homes). I've never met anyone as dedicated to the health and welfare of parrots, and I highly recommend adopting (or fostering!) from Parrots First. Even though I've moved from the area, I still maintain contact with Rose and Frank, because they've become good friends. I'm constantly amazed at the amount of work they do and love they have (both of which are endless) for these magnificent and often abused and neglected animals. Thanks so much for all you do!
Do not know what has happened since the good reviews however, my experince with Parrots First has been lack luster. Extremely long waits for a response about adopting bird. Has you fill out the adoption questionnaire with no response. After a follow up to application submission and several days of no response, am told bird was adopted.
Parrots First is a top notch private rescue run by an incredibly caring couple who, with the help of volunteers, rescue many, many parrots from bad situations. They have a lot of experience with parrot behavior, nutrition, and care, and always put the birds first. This is not easy considering the financial strain of everyday and veterinary care, plus the emotional strain of having to choose which birds they are able to help. This is especially difficult considering the sob stories and pushy people they encounter. It is amazing the level of care they are able to provide for so many birds considering all they deal with. Yet, as a foster care provider for them and an adopter of 2 of their birds, I have always been impressed with their ability to balance the needs of the birds with the options available--they are remarkably flexible for animal rescuers, who can sometimes get a bit rigid. They do home checks and have classes for potential adopters, which is really needed to screen out people who are just going to turn around and sell/dump the bird. Additionally, I have been to many parrot rescues and Parrots First maintains a very clean and comfortable temporary (or permanent in many cases) place for the birds, including access to the outside, which is so wonderful for them. I absolutely love this Rescue and all the work that they do.
As a foster home we fostered Cookie an Umbrella cockatoo 10 years ago. Cookie was adopted and doing well. His family lost their home and Cookie was returned to Parrots First. I am so grateful that they were able to once again help this wonderful bird get on with his life.
Parrots First is a clean, safe, fun place for parrots and people. Parrots get the best care, food, veterinary care, socialization and shelter, and people get the best education as to the reality of caring for a parrot properly and the importance of adoption in a time when there are far more parrots in need of homes than there are of qualified homes for them. I love volunteering at Parrots First. Getting to know all the personalities of the individual birds is a treat. Seeing birds who are scared to death of people get to trust them is an experience I can't describe. Seeing birds bond with their prospective new family is wonderful. I bring a lot of toys for the birds and seeing them enjoy them makes me happy. I have the utmost respect for Rose and Frank and have watched them give their lives to parrots for many, many years now. Parrots First is a first class facility with both outdoor aviaries and indoor accommodations that allow parrots to be parrots. I can't say enough about this organization.