The Beak Retreat
Where the birds go to vacation!
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The Beak Retreat Where the birds go to vacation! |
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PETCO – Needham, MA, Store #284 July 9, 2002 At approximately 9:00 p.m. on the evening of July 9, 2002, an unfortunate incident occurred that highlights the lack of care afforded to animals being carried and sold at PETCO stores. A Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus senegalus), approximately the size of a BlueJay, that was for sale was allowed to reach the top of another bird's cage. The other bird was a Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao), one of the largest parrot species in the world. Both of these birds had lived in this store for approximately two years. Due to the close proximity of these birds, the Scarlet Macaw mutilated the toes and feet of the Senegal Parrot. Employees rushed to the Senegal and wrapped her in a towel. They attempted to stop her profuse bleeding with a product called Kwik Stop, which is a coagulating powder meant to stop bleeding on broken toe nails. This product can and will burn skin and body tissue.
Since the particular employee did not have the finances to treat this bird medically, she called Tami Myers, local vet tech for 23 years, to care for this Senegal, now named Hobbit. Tami treated Hobbit for shock with syringe feedings of warm juice and hand-feeding formula and kept her on soft towels under a heat lamp. She was weak from the loss of blood and from shock. Tami cared for her through the night, and the next morning she rushed Hobbit to the avian vet's office. Radiographs revealed two fractured toes, one of which may need amputation. She will probably lose at least one toenail.
Foster Parrots, Ltd., an avian rescue organization near Boston, MA, has generously paid for all the veterinary expenses to date. The following day, July 11, a customer at the same PETCO store opened the cage of the Scarlet Macaw that injured the Senegal and was bitten so severely that she was sent to the ER for stitches. The fact that this macaw is able to injure birds and humans alike in a PETCO store shows the public that PETCO is not concerned with the safety of the animals or customers in their store. They are concerned with the amount of traffic a large, beautiful bird such as a Scarlet Macaw will draw to their stores. These birds come with a hefty price tag and rarely sell. They are often shuffled from store to store. Parrots are generally not an aggressive creature when in the wild. When confronted they will fly away after a brief squabble. But when subjected to the abnormal confines of a cage, along with bright, fluorescent lights, being unable to rest due to the constant barrage of the public, they can and will lash out. It is the inhumane lack of veterinary care, along with the general treatment of these captive wild animals that will cause the public to discontinue patronizing PETCO. PETCO markets and sells animals that are already overpopulated as "pets." There are over 100 formal avian rescue groups around the United States with birds up for adoption, in addition to the shelters, bird club adoption groups, and other humane organizations who have been seeing exotic birds flood their facilities. When PETCO stops its inhumane practices of marketing and selling animals, denying them protection from other animals, and denying them veterinary care, we will support them completely. Until then we will continue to document and raise public awareness regarding these issues.
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Hobbit's
Story
Due
to the severity of the injuries, the PETCO employees were afraid the bird
would die from blood loss. They contacted their superiors who denied any
medical treatment for this bird. The district manager was responsible
for authorizing medical treatment, and he was not able to be reached at
that time of the evening. The store manager directed one distraught employee
to "get rid" of the bird, since the scene was now attracting
the attention of curious PETCO shoppers.
Her
wounds were carefully cleaned and bandages were applied to give support
and heal the wounds. The toe that may be amputated is the back toe, necessary
for proper gripping of a perch. She was placed on oral antibiotics.
