Don't Breed, Don't Buy - Adopt!

When you think of animals in shelters and fostermany rescued birds cannot survive on their own - so
homes, you generally think of dogs and cats, right?releasing them into the air can be considered cruel.
They are not the only animals in need of permanentAnother animal oftentimes in need of rescue, horses
homes. Oftentimes, rescued animals need fosteringare expensive animals to care for even when
to make them more adoptable, however, qualifiedhealthy, and many rescued horses are NOT healthy
foster homes are in short supply. Volunteers arewhen they arrive at the rescue facility. Adoption fees
always needed and welcomed to help care forare based on a horse's abilities and/or potential
rescued animals.abilities. As I'm sure you can imagine, running a horse
Contact various rescue organizations regardingrescue is not cheap, so to help offset some of the
adopting homeless birds, horses, rabbits, ferrets andcosts, fund raising programs are often ran. These
reptiles. Generous and compassionate veterinarianslarger animals obviously need larger space and cost
work at a reduced rate for rescue organizations, butmore to care for than smaller animals and birds.
the costs still add up. All adoptions involve anAdoptions are down, more than likely due to
adoption fee that generally covers spaying/neutering,economic times - there seem to be more animals
all necessary shots, worming, microchips,than families wanting or able to adopt. Perhaps you
transportation fees, etc. These are costs you wouldcan foster or help support your local rescue groups in
incur anyway, no matter where you get your pet.other ways.
Even a free pet is not really free when you factor inOne of the best things we can do for our animal
the costs associated with pet ownership.friends is to control their population. Can't afford to
If you are familiar with handling birds, perhaps you'llhave your pet spayed or neutered? We can't afford
think about becoming a bird foster parent. Bird rescuenot to. When you adopt, it is already done.
is not just about taking in and caring for birds. Plus,