To start with, this story is not about dogs, it is about parrots. I am trying to get help and awareness of serious issues with these beautiful and majestic “pets”. I have contacted the Humane Society and spoke with the rescue end of it and they gave me someone to talk to from Midwest Avian Adoption and Rescue Services. I found out that people can treat “parrots” any way they see fit as they are classified as “breed for labratory use” animals…

I am beside myself trying to get these birds out of this awful situation. Here it is….There is a greenhouse in Brainard Minnesota where two Blue and Gold Macaws, an Umbrella Cockatoo, two cockatiels and a female Eclectus parrot are kept. In the cold weather the only heat is from a heat lamp!!!!! This is northern Minnesota!! and these are “tropical birds”!! The cockatoo, which myslef along with the Brainard Bird Club raised the $400 to purchase the Cockatoo from him and I took it to an avian vet for disease testing and now he happlily resides in a happy foster home before finding the perfect home. Although these other birds are still there….The femaIe macaw has had her toes frozen off. We were going to try to “purchase” the female (as she is in the most need) from him to save her, and decided that paying this JERK $$ for the birds is not the answer.

I spoke with the man and he REFUSES to take any of my advice on proper housing or nutrition for these birds. He is “TOO Busy”!! The birds are fed a mixture of “ground corn and sunflower seeds!! This is like asking a baby to grow and flourish on saltine crackers and potato chips!! These birds do not have proper housing, food or care! When I was there, the water was so green with alge that I cant imagine anything drinkiing it. Both the water and food dishes are on the floor with feces allowed to fall into it. He says, what do they do in the wild>????

In the wild, parrots visit “clay licks” and consume the clay which acts like an antibotic. He obviously doenst know this, although he says he owned a pet store and knows how to care for his birds!!. I suggested a simple soloution of having water and food dishes mounted to the side of the cage, (which by the way is galvanized wire and the lead content of it is sure to make the birds sick or die in time). He refused to move the dishes. A friend offered to come in and take care of them, he refused. She even brought in hanging dishes and pelleted food and he refused to use them. How can it be that these helpless creatures have to endure such a life??? People get these birds and dont realize the responsiblity they have taken on. These birds live from 50 to 100 years!! They need the same type of physical, nutritional and emotional nuturing a toddler does!

How can I get the public to stop and think before they buy these birds, just cuz they match the furniture??? Better yet, how can I get these birds out of this mans hands when the laws basically allow anyone to “beat them with a club” as they wish, with no consequences as there are with dogs and cats?? I am grasping at any hope of help I can. I know your area is dogs, but I thought maybe you have some advice for me. Blessings to you and Thank You for your time!

Julie from MN

Dear Mark: I have just now finished your book, “Rescuing Sprite” and I just loved it. You are my kind of people. My husband and I have adopted three little cocker spaniels that were rescue dogs. First was Andy, who we had to put to sleep fifteen years ago and it broke our hearts. He was such a cute and sweet little guy, I still think of him. Next came another Andy who had wandered into our neighbors yard, they were calling him Andy and I knew it was an omen, we had to have him. He is still with us and is now almost 17 years old, we keep thinking he may be on his last leg, but then he surprises us and keeps right on going strong. We adopted Zeusie from a rescue in Maryland six years ago and he is so special in every way. He is my little “boyfriend” – always giving me kisses. I really like the fact that your family adopts dogs who need homes, we will always do this because so many doggies need a home and love, good vet care and good food. I’m passing your book to a dog loving friend of mine, she’ll love it. Thanks for writing it, I understand completely your sorrow at losing Sprite, but as a dog rescuer once told me, the best way to honor your deceased pet is to bring another needy dog into your home and love it.

Teresa from DE

There were so many mornings when he could literally make me smile before I even opened my eyes! All he had to do was cuddle up next to me and press his sweet face against mine! His touch and smell would instantly melt my heart! I am married to a handsome, sweet and wonderful man, yet he is not the one I am talking about. I am talking about the nine-pound Yorkie, Skip we rescued just over three years ago. We came across him on the Internet.
The woman at the rescue organization explained to us that he had been rescued from a home where nearly 40 other dogs were living. She said that he and a little Maltese were the only small dogs in the home. She believed that he had never had a bed to sleep on and that his meals had consisted only of random table scraps. His previous owners called him Scatter, although he did not answer to that name. She sent us a picture of this poor little guy over e-mail and we fell in love.
Several days later, we got into the car with our spitfire of a Yorkie, Chevy and headed off to pick up our new boy! We wondered how Chevy; the queen of the house would adjust to having a new friend around. My husband is a huge fan of the University of Oklahoma, so we had decided we would name this new dog Boomer. However, upon meeting him we immediately knew that Boomer was not a fitting name for this dog. He was friendly, but also timid and shy and very skittish. We understood why he might have been called Scatter at one time. We would have to reconsider a new name for this boy.

He willingly settled into the car with us, right on my lap to head to his new home. Chevy was very curious, but didn’t seem too upset by this new addition. Fairly soon into our return home, we decided that Skip would be a perfect name for this very loveable dog. We had both watched the movie My Dog Skip and felt like that was a very fitting name for him. When we arrived home, Skip curled up comfortably on the blue fleece blanket we had purchased just for him. (more…)

Growing up in a rural section of southeast Missouri, stray dogs were common. Most were unapproachable, but one in particular attached himself to our family. My parents, as good parents, warned us against “making friends” with the dog. But of course, us being kids, we slowly wore down that warning to start with secreting table scraps out for him to eat. It took some time, but over a few months, he became a full member of the family, with parent approval. We named him Sampson. He was a medium sized dog, mature dog, white with large light brown spots. Never knew what breed or breeds he was. It didn’t matter; he was just one of the family for the next eight years.

Back in those days, where we lived, you didn’t put a dog on a leash or worry about things like that. Didn’t need it. Sampson never wondered far from the front door unless to take a walk with one of us. Every morning he was there with his tail up, ready to run and play. Every day when we were dropped off from school, he was there, waiting by the pecan tree. As I grew older, and started to hunt and fish, Sampson was an able companion. Never did a day of training, yet he just instinctively knew how to drive a rabbit or flush a covey. Or at least it seemed that way to a 15 year old kid. And I always rewarded him for the help.

I learned a lot from that dog. I learned first and foremost responsibility, when caring and feeding him. I learned teamwork while hunting with him. And importantly, I learned that there was more to life than just money or material things. I will always remember when he passed, looking into those old, tired eyes. He wanted so bad to go out and play one more time, but the body was not able. I know that at some point in the afterlife, my brothers and I will get a chance once again to play with Sampson.

Craig from VA

I SO much enjoyed your book. I have a border collie mix ..her name “Spanky” …she has saved my life on several occasions …I left a pan on my stove and she woke me up to alert me to the burning pan…another occasion is that I discovered I have sleep apnea and she noticed my breathing was different and woke me up. It’s amazing how smart this little dog is. She’s my best friend (I’m single) and the love of my life.

This book has made me more aware to enjoy these precious years I have with her…these little angles won’t be around for a long time and your book has made me appreciate the time I have with her and to take good care of her and enjoy her. Thank you Mark for witing such a heartwarming book. We need pets …they keep us young not to mention loved. Merry Christmas and a JOYFUL new year!

Susan from TX

Dear Mark,

Enjoy your show and read your book, Rescuing Sprite. Here’s a photo of Caitlin Cuddle Counts (Cati). Not a real manly dog by any means (I’m 6′ 3″ and 200 lbs). But she was my best friend for nearly 14 years. She loved camping, fishing and just being my pal. I miss her very much. Keep up the good work and lets get this country of ours back.

Regards,

Harvey from CA