Adopting from WAES
Because parrots live such a long time (some up to 100 years), they are likely to lose their homes many times over the course of their lives. Many of our parrots have been through multiple homes and may have special needs. Parrots need a lot of attention and mental stimulation. A parrot is a real commitment. Over the years WAES has developed processes and rules to ensure the bird (and you!) have the best chance for success:
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- Become a WAES member and be current on your annual membership dues ($30/yr). WAES is committed to making every adoption successful for both the bird and the adopter. This fee helps to cover the costs of our educational materials and provide you with the best possible start to a life with your new bird. Additionally, your decision to apply and pay the fee tells us that you are serious about adopting a bird from us and committed to the process.
- Submit an adoption application (provided below). We use this valuable information to help us find a bird that fits with your personality, lifestyle, experience, and expectations.
- WAES will schedule a time for a home visit by a committee member. This visit will include a brief tour of your home and yard. They will want to meet any other pets you may have in your household, as well as other family members, to make sure the bird’s new home is safe and secure. The evaluator will then fill out a Home Evaluation and submit to WAES for review.
- Meet the bird(s)! WAES does not have a central facility and all of our birds are housed in foster homes. We will coordinate with you and the foster home to schedule an appropriate time for you and your family to visit. It may take a while for you to “connect” with the bird, so we strongly recommend more than one visit. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find your new companion right away, or if the bird you have your heart set on doesn’t seem interested. It can take time to earn trust and form a relationship.
- Sign an adoption agreement, and pay the adoption fee. The actual adoption fee varies from bird to bird. We generally set the fee amount based on the veterinary visits we have paid for. Once you have chosen a specific bird, we can provide you an exact fee. You can also see current fees for adoptable birds here.
Adoption Rules
WAES takes the responsibility for each bird in our care very seriously and we want them to be successful in their new home. We take time to ensure each adopter has all the tools needed for long-term success. We are invested in the lifetime of each bird that comes into our care, and we appreciate that you are taking the time to commit to that same level of care.
- You must be 18 years or older in order to adopt.
- We do not ship birds. This is highly stressful for the birds, and not very safe. In addition, part of the adoption process is a home visit, so it is necessary that you live within a reasonable driving distance.
- You may only adopt one bird per year from WAES. We want to ensure you have the time to properly bond with your new companion before adding another to your flock.
- If you must rehome your bird, you will be required to surrender the bird back to WAES. This will be a part of the adoption agreement you will sign. While we strive to give every one of our birds a forever home, we understand that circumstances may change, and they may need to be rehomed. WAES will ensure any bird that gets returned to us finds a new home.
- You must not ever intentionally breed the bird.
- At a minimum, all of our birds receive the following veterinary care (this is what the adoption fee comes from). More tests may be conducted if recommended by the veterinarian.
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Physical Exam
- Necessary Grooming
Adoption FAQ
What about smaller birds like budgies, finches, cockatiels, and lovebirds?
From time to time WAES receives calls concerning smaller birds, such as budgies, finches, cockatiels, and lovebirds in need of adoptive homes. Though it is impractical for WAES to participate in the adoption process for these smaller birds, private adoptions are sometimes arranged between the parties.
The Rescue Committee will help facilitate contact concerning private adoptions whenever possible. In the case of a private adoption, WAES neither arranges nor pays for the veterinary exam, disease testing, or health care, nor does WAES warrant the health of the bird. If you choose to adopt privately, please remember that the only way to know if a bird is ill or carrying a disease is to have an avian vet check the bird and perform various tests.Regardless of where or how you acquire a bird, any bird new to your home should be quarantined for at least 60 days to prevent the spread of disease and to help the bird gradually acclimate to its new environment.
Do you ship birds?
WAES does not ship birds. This is highly stressful for the bird and not safe. In addition, part of the adoption process is a home visit, so it is necessary that you live within a reasonable driving distance. It is necessary that you meet the bird prior to adoption. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Why do you require a membership fee on top of the adoption fee?
We are committed to making every adoption a successful one – for both the bird and the adopter. This fee helps to cover the costs of our educational materials and provide you with the best possible start to a life with your new bird. Your decision to apply and pay the fee tells us that you are serious about adopting a bird from us and committed to the process.
How long does the adoption process take?
Generally, depending on how quickly you “connect” with a bird, you can expect the adoption process to take between 4-6 weeks for the bird to come to your home.
Why do you have an adoption process?
Because parrots live such a long time (some up to 100 years), they are likely to lose their homes many times over the course of their lives. Many of our parrots have been through multiple homes and may have special needs. Parrots need a lot of attention and mental stimulation. A parrot is a real commitment.
Over the years WAES has developed processes and rules to ensure the bird (and you!) have the best chance for success. We take the responsibility for each bird in our care very seriously and we want them to be successful in their new home. We take time to make sure each adopter has all the tools needed for long-term success. We are invested in the lifetime of each bird that comes to us and we appreciate that you are taking the time to commit to that same level of care.
How much does a bird cost?
We do charge a fee to adopt. This fee is based upon the vet costs we have incurred for the bird, the cost of rescue, and other costs associated with the rehabilitation of the bird. There is a great deal of care and effort that go into the rehabilitation of our birds. Due to the considerable effort it takes to find these birds forever homes, it often results in costly veterinary bills. If we have these fees readily available, we will list them on our site.
Our adoption process tries to match the bird with your family and not to try to place a bird based upon its adoption fee. Once approved for adoption, you will know all of the costs involved in adopting a specific bird.
Why do I have to be 18 to adopt?
You must be over 18 years of age to adopt. Parrots can live a long time (some up to 100 years). In addition to their long lifespan, parrots need a lot of attention and mental stimulation. Parrots are a real, lifetime commitment. And when we say “lifetime commitment,” we are referring to your life, not the life of the parrot. It is not uncommon for parrots to outlive their human companions.
Minors often will experience a lot of changes in their life that make caring for such a special animal difficult. Many go off to college, where they cannot take their bird. Others may marry and start a family, leaving them little time to care for a bird. Parents or guardians usually end up taking care of the bird, and occasionally this can result in neglect because they are not the ones who wanted the bird in the first place.
Adopting a parrot is a very serious commitment, and we must ensure that any potential adopter can provide a lifetime home to our birds. For this reason, we will not adopt to anyone under the age of 18. There are no exceptions.
