The animal pet trade is big business. The pet industry knowingly creates a deficit of hundreds of thousands of over-bred, unwanted pet animals in an already over-saturated market. Breeders make money whilst the animals suffer: females endure repeated pregnancies and their offspring are often sold to people unable to care for them. Rescue facilities face increasingly desperate times, with growing demands placed upon them to assist and house abandoned and cruelly treated pet animals. Add to this irresponsible pet owners who allow their companion animals to breed indiscriminately or abandon them when times are hard, and we have a problem reaching epidemic proportions.

‘The precursor to the unnecessary suffering of domestic animals, birds and parrots is their perpetual breeding. The UK has a crisis over-population of these unwanted animals. Animal shelters are bursting at the seams with throw-away, abused and neglected animals. This crisis is an indictment of human indifference, irresponsibility, ignorance and greed.’ (Julie Hamilton, Director of New Life Parrot Rescue)

Parrots are wild at heart, thus beyond the ‘pet’ concept. New Life Parrot Rescue (NLPR) is adamantly against their perpetual breeding and the stealing of eggs and offspring for the hand-reared pet trade. There are thousands of unwanted parrots, with very few ethical parrot rescue organisations in existence to meet the demand. The larger parrots easily live up to fifty years or more, making it impossible to counter-balance their continual breeding. Parrots commonly experience four homes before they reach the age of five. Further information is available at www.nlpr.org.uk (see Links page).

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and, despite a number of chewed shoes, I became your best friend. Gradually, you began spending more time at work and searching for a human mate. I waited patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks, and then you fell in love. I welcomed her into our home, showed her affection and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. As they began to grow, I became their friend. I loved everything about them and I would defend them with my life if need be. These past few years, you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said I know you will find a good home for her. They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog. They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you and that this was all a bad dream. When I realised I could not compete with the frolicking puppies, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me, and I padded along after her to a separate room. She placed me on the table and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured ‘How could you?’ She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I couldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my ‘How could you?’ was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever.