FINCHforum

So I was on my way home yesterday and I saw a pet shop that had a sign saying they had cordon bleus and various other finches. Finally I thought, I'll be able to get my boy a female.

The store was very pretty from the outside. Flowers in boxes, clean windows...When I got in there I thought I would die! The place was filthy and smelled! There were dead fish everywhere including on the floor, the gerbils and hamsters looked as though they hadn't been changed in weeks, the lizards were all thin and shedding.
I was just about to leave in disgust when I noticed in the corner there was a small cage with 2 male gouldians and a canary. I think the cage was MAYBE 14 x 10x 10. There was about a quarter of an inch of feces and seed in the bottom of the cage. They had very little scummy water and no seed in the cups.

Normally I would NEVER give money to a store like this, but I felt so bad for them. The clerk said that the owner was on vacation for a month. I hope she fires theses people when she gets back.

The birds looked in pretty good health except the nails were really overgrown. So I plunked down my money and rescued them. I just couldn't leave them there! Then I promptly called th S.P.C.A.

When I put them in the cage at home I almost cried! They attacked the seed and lettuce as though they hadn't eaten in days then dove into the water. I have never seen a bird drink so much so quickly!

This morning the 3 of them are sitting on a branch side by side and looking quite well and satisfied. They seem a bit confused at the space though...

I would probably have done the same. Hopefully your call will prompt the authorities to do something for the rest of the critters.

hi ravenlock
i have been in stores like that and have what i call rescued the birds from the people who own the store i have rescued all sorts of birds some on there oown and some in double figures (zebras ) you did right phoning the S P C A i have phoned our equivalent the rspca when i came out of a pets at home store because in my view the birds where suffering..it was nothing to do with me but all the pets at home shops in the uk have stopped selling birds altogether as they were sick of complaints and people going back with dead birds ! you did the right thing in both cases i hope the people get there just desserts and your rescued birds live a long and i am sure a happy life

ken

Like I said the store looked well maintained in every way except the animals themselves. I wonder if the owner went away and the employees just don't feel like cleaning cages!

I'm super glad that I rescued them. The canary is already singing a little. I was originally going to put the gouldians in with my owls and put the canary in another cage, but now I think I will buy them another flight and keep them together. It seems fitting to have the survivors remain together.

The cage(my hospital) they are being quarantined in is only 24Lx12Dx24H, but it's a palace compared to what they were in! I'll get them a proper flight closer to when they are ready to go in the bird room. I'm sort of out of money now...

One gouldian has a black face and purple breast and the other has an orange and black face and white breast. I named the black-faced "Jewel" because he looks like my mothers family ring and the other "Jack" because he looks like a Jack-0-Lantern. The canary I've decided to name "Resca" as in short for rescue.

congratulations ravenlock i hope they continue to do well!and live a long time for you


ken

Good for you!! Too often pet stores get away with crap like that. Where are our pics??
Unfortunately Canadian laws are really lax where pets are concerned and probably not much will be done There's a pet store near me that is horrid, every time I used to go in there there'd be dead fish, they kept their lizards in those plastic stacking drawers like you get at Walmart, they over crowd their rodents and keep males and females together and the let their kittens and puppies get sick and die. The last time I was in the store was 2 or 3 years ago, they had 2 puppies with terrible diarrhea, totally dehydrated eyes sunk in awful. I went home in tears and called the SPCA, they investigated, I don't even think there was a fine. It's really pathetic The SPCA officers know the shop is cruel, but the laws prevent them from doing anything about it, it's very upsetting. I no longer shop at that store, I don't even walk in the door and I tell everyone I know about what I've seen there and discourage people from shopping there, it's unfortunately the only thing one can do in these circumstances. Ok I'll get off my soapbox now

I'm so glad you rescued that little crew! Thanks for doing that!

I'm happy to report that everyone seems to be doing just fine. In fact all 3 had a serious bath when I put in the bath tub this morning!

The canary is already singing his heart out. It was funny, my other canary could hear it from downstairs and stood straight up in his cage and started singing extra loud!

The little black-face is a very curious little bird. As soon as I go near the cage he hops to the front and looks at me as though he is saying "Got anything good?" Boy do they learn fast or what!

I wish I could post pics, but I don't own a digital camera yet. That's actually what I was going to buy this week...Oh well a camera can wait.

That was a very touching story.
I am glad you rescued the 3 guys from that terrible place. It must feel so good knowing that you made their life better... MUCH better.

LOL at your canary standing straight and singing lounder when he heard your new canary.