MadMandy

Your right, that's my opinion of how it went...., I don't want you to think I was being negative about the owner. We spoke for an hour today, she told me her version of events and I filled her in on the after events. Personally, I hope she does still have a bond with the bird, she hand reared her and through all of this, my intentions were to find the bird's owner. I didn't ask her to consider leaving the bird with me, she broached the subject. Owners make mistakes all the time, she didn't know her regular morning routine would go haywire (if that can even be considered a mistake...). It's heart breaking to develop that bond & then let go, but that's a risk you take when you take in a "foster". I appreciate all the positive comments, and I'm glad that these two are even getting the chance for reunion because I know too many birds & owners don't get that chance. I've had 24 hours to digest the news, and like I said, even if its goodbye, I got to spend some time with a very special little girl. Heartbroken yet happy.. bittersweet

So here's the scoop, I bird sit for my mom on a frequent basis (she has a CAG) while she was traveling as my dad was working all over the states. When she finally came home for good, we decided her bird would stay with me because he was being moved back & forth too much. Months later, we decided to sell our house & because we had to paint, we decided it was time for Ringer to go home to mom. I've known one of the local ACO's for a few years & we talk birds all the time. One day last May, she called me up to say that she had captured a Grey & wanted to know if she could borrow a cage (I kept all of my stuff for Ringer). Needless to say I let her borrow the cage. About a week went by & she called me back because she was having trouble getting the cage situated. I went over & set it up & let her know I was free to foster this bird if she needed (she has a Goffin & another large cockatoo, a few cats & a few dogs, plus she works 60+ hours a week). About a month later she asked me if the offer to foster still stood, which of course it did, I missed having Ringer, we were settled in our new home & the timing was perfect. I picked the bird up on July 12, 2 months after she was captured. I fielded calls & emails, placed ads on Craigslist & ParrotAlert911 and responded to everyone that contacted me. Nobody could match the band info, the bird didn't respond to any of the photos I was showing it or having any real reaction to different names & sayings. After 2 months nobody contacted me again & we decided that the bird needed a name. We settled on Pipsqueak & she grew to respond to that name. Yesterday, I got an email from PA911 & as soon as I read it, I knew Pips human had found us, at last. Unfortunately, during the 14 months I've had Pip, she has bonded with the whole family. I spent my afternoon in tears knowing that the person on the other end of that email was the owner of this bird. My husband is devastated as we were told long ago that we could consider the bird ours. Adopted, no longer a foster. Today I had a great (also tearful on both ends) conversation with the owner, verified the band info and found out that Pip's name is Larry, she will be 4 this December. On the morning she was lost, she was. taken outside for their regular coffee break. Larry wasn't a strong flyer so she wasn't worried about her taking off as this was their regular routine. Well, that day Larry flew around a bit as usual and then flew away. Her owner followed her around town, climbing trees, & calling for her. Finally, Larry took flight one more time but she went so high & so far her owner lost sight of her but she did see 2 large hawks in the area & assumed the worst. I hate to say it but she stopped lookin, never even contacted animal control, just accepted that Larry was gone. That tid bit of info really bums me out...she just gave up. The other day, her & here. watching videos on YouTube & she figured she would just do a quick Google search...of course my ad came up & she sent me an email. We will be meeting in my home next month (schedule conflicts) to determine if there is a lingering bond between them it if Pip/Larry is fully bonded with her new flock. She said she was really happy that someone who cared this much ended up with the bird & if Pip doesnt react to her & is bonded with us, she wont jeopardize Pip's mental/emotional well being and Pip will remain here. I'm torn to think of loosing this bird, but if that's how it goes, i know i did a GREAT thing for both of them & I will always cherish the time we had with this special special girl.

Well, 16 months later, and we have a WINNER!!! Pip's human found us after all this time!! Pip is really a girl named Larry, she will be 4 this year, and in a few weeks, her human will come to visit us to see if there is a lingering bond between them. A bittersweet victory as we have grown to really love Pip over the last 14 months (She spent 2 months with ACO before coming to us). Between the tears, (mine & her owner's) we have decided to let Pip/Larry be the decision maker in who stays where or goes where. Just wanted to update everyone

Hello everyone a quick update as it has been some time since I was last on here. My foster has become an adoptee & we are calling him/her Pip (short for pipsqueak) I was told I could take my parrot alert ad down but I will not be doing so. I have talked to 4 lost bird owners since July, so far without luck in finding an owner. As attached as I may be, if the owner is still looking, Pip will go home one day.

Thanks, but I think it was more of a misunderstanding on mine & Talon's behalf. We have squared that away and things are on the up & up This is my first rescue and I am excited to try and help this little bugger find his way back to his human companion - no matter how long it takes. I am a firm believer in not giving up!

I reposted on ParrotAlert today http://www.911parrotalert.com/found/found-ma-fitchburg-african-grey-may-12-11-2/

I just sent you a PM with my details

Agreed. We can work together but lets not let frustration get in the way again. I am not Suzy, I can't account for her not taking calls or making an effort. I will work and consider other methods but I unfortunately have to provide her solid proof before I can release the bird to anyone. I have listed my methods of acceptable information and if there is a match, I am not against a meeting between human & bird. My only goal here is to get this bird back to the person who lost it, as I am sure that is the overall objective of everyone on this board. Let's not take our eyes off the prize!

That would be preferred...

I'm not messing or kidding. I JUST PICKED THE BIRD UP YESTERDAY. I don't have cell phone reception in the middle of nowhere NH and only have intermittent internet while I am at work. I never said YOU were not busy either. Suzy had blown me off a few times and I have been SICK - WTF do you want from me? A frickin miracle? I finally get on here after not being able to for some time and you are telling everyone how I fell off the face of the earth??? YOU DONT EVEN KNOW ME PERSONALLY. I come first in MY life. I repeat - I HAVE BEEN SICK. I am honestly telling you that I have not gotten another message from you since you left me your contact details. Was I supposed to call you to tell you that I still didn't have the bird? I also never asked anyone else to do any work, I simply put out the word that a bird was found. I am not an idiot or a bad person. DONT TREAT ME LIKE ONE.

No, I would not just turn them away. My own mother doesn't have her birds band info written down. I would like to know why veterinarians are not recording this information...it would be helpful to the human in the event of a lost bird. If you read the other posts before everyone got all mad that I wasn't on here everyday, I agree that there are other ways to ID an animal besides just matching the band info. I would ask for photos of them with the bird, and a list of things the bird does & says to see if they are behaviors that are displayed while the bird is in my home. If the potential owner gave me some info to watch for / listen for and I saw that happening with the bird, I would likely try to arrange for a meeting between human & bird. I know birds can recognize someone they know...even if its been a while since they have seen them. I will be taking the bird to the vet in the next few weeks (I work full time & have prior commitments/appointments that I need to keep) to get wings clipped & check to see if it microchipped. Let me know if you have any more questions. I will do my best to make a timely response. Thanks!

She is stretched thin. Her job is her passion but the humans suck as does the funding for her department of 1 - she is severely limited and it's not by her choice.

Penny, i have not received a single email from you. Ever. I got 1 pm from you with your info, which I still have on hand.

I haven't disappeared, I made it very clear that I have limited internet access. I also have some personal medical problems that are lingering and its important to me that I am healthy. If I am not healthy, I can't provide for my family, nevermind help this bird. Suzie is the only person in the Animal Control dept for Fitchburg which is a large city, she covers shelters in 3 other towns, and also has her own life problems to deal with. I picked the bird up last night (7/12/11) but after reading your comments, I'm not sure I'd want to work with you either, you seem to be as forceful as you claim Suzy is negligent. Things take TIME, I know, even in the age of everything being INSTANT...believe it or not, things DO take time. You can give my information to whomever you like, they can provide band info, photos, a list of things the bird does/says, bird names and I will try everything I can to get this bird to its RIGHTFUL owner but I can tell you this, the bird will NOT be released just because someone THINKS it MAY BE theirs. I will be seeing an avian vet at MY convenience to have his wings clipped and have the bird checked for a microchip as well. Maybe I'll post my findings...but only if we agree to play NICELY. It is important to ME that the bird go back to its rightful owner, I would be devastated if Ringer were gone & there was no help but I wouldn't GIVE UP just because things aren't happening as quickly as I would like. Here's to not GIVING UP.

Absolutely will do!!! I got the PM with your phone info. I am hoping to hear back from Suzie today & will let you know ASAP!!!