I went through Phoenix Landing’s entire adoption process by the book. Took all their required classes, submitted everything they asked for, passed the home visit with no issues, and was approved. My family and I were trying to adopt a young, healthy Grey named Clyde. He was listed on their website and we were really excited to give him a forever home.
But the second I mentioned Clyde during the home visit, everything changed. The foster who came to my house immediately got weird, dodged questions, and started steering me toward other birds—ones that were sick, plucked, or on meds. She invited me to her house later that week to meet the birds, but after she left, she ghosted me completely. No response to texts or emails. After days of silence, I emailed the organization’s founder, and magically the next day the foster replied and said I couldn’t have Clyde because I had dogs. Not up for discussion.
Meanwhile, this same foster has multiple cats living with the birds she’s fostering. Cats, which are actual predators to birds, are somehow okay—but my two lazy, elderly bulldogs who barely move are a dealbreaker? This was never about safety. This was about keeping Clyde.
When I pushed again, the founder emailed me and said Clyde had “opted for his prospective family.” Birds don’t opt into families. It was a weak excuse to close the door and avoid being honest. The listing was removed, and no adoption announcement was made. Clyde was never adopted—he was kept.
Others agree this feels like a bait and switch. They advertise adoptable birds to draw people in, then gatekeep the birds they don’t want to part with and try to push off the ones with serious health issues.
This isn’t rescue. It’s unethical, misleading, and completely unfair to the people trying to adopt—and especially to the birds who deserve real homes.
Phoenix Landing is an exceptional resource for information about companion parrots. They sponsor webinars/in-person events monthly and offer birds for their forever homes. They are very particular on who can adopt a bird and want to educate new bird owners on what to expect. I've been involved with them for many years and highly recommend for adoption or education.
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They provide great educational programs to people interested in owning a bird, large or small. They also run an adoption program and have many birds that need a new forever home. If you are interested in owning a bird, they educate you first to make sure you understand the responsibility involved in ownership of a possible long-lived animal. One day they will be the caretakers of my 15 exotic birds when I am not able to care for them anymore (due to death or health). Please support this wonderful non-profit so they can continue their valuable work with birds.