Chloe Sanctuary for Parrots and Cockatoos

Our educational videos: Cockatude

[Videos can be seen on youtube.com/chloesanctuary]

The Chloe Sanctuary takes abused and neurotic or psychotic birds like Sugar and gives them a permanent home. We heal them over time and give them the emotional tools they need to overcome their suffering. 

Sugar came to us with severe feather destructive behavior. She was actually cutting her own skin with her beak. We put her on calming medicine, gave her a safe corner space to live in, and fitted her with collars to begin to break the cycle of self-abuse. We nearly lost her several times because her feathers had pinched off follicles and were not growing properly. We went through 13 collars, to different calming drugs, and over $3,000 before she turned the corner. We think she was worth it! 

We have one other mission: to inform the public about these majestic, intelligent, and suffering animals. Few understand their nature or their needs. 

We are committed to communicating the science of parrot psychology and physiology. Until everyone knows about them they are in danger in our world.

A bridge over the river of suffering

When you are involved in parrot rescue you see many things: suffering, neurosis, and psychosis. Often I see eyes darkened by futility. They have given up. They have reached the point where they would rather die than continue living. Life has become a living hell where the one that they wanted to love has turned into a demon. Because of that demon, they become raving, screaming creatures that would do anything to make the pain stop. There is nowhere to turn; they live in a nightmare world.

This is how most people come to us. As a rescuer, we naturally take the first paragraph to mean the suffering of birds. No, I am not talking about a parrot being relinquished. I am describing many of the people who turn over their birds to us. Often they are close to mental breakdown. They never dreamt that the sweet-looking, cuddly cockatoo they brought home would turn them into awful, spiteful people who throw things at cages and yell “stop it” at the top of their voices. Often they have abandoned the bird to its cage, afraid of another bite. Many times they cover the cage to stop the incessant screaming. Most of them would feel contempt for someone who treated a dog the way they have been treating their bird. In truth, I think most of them feel contempt for themselves. They hate what they have become.

Is there a cure?

What is the usual cure? We take the bird from them and let them return to their lives. Once the bird is gone they no longer scream “shut up” while their faces turn into masks of anger and frustration, they are no longer consumed by the need to outwit the harpy that has stolen their peace. The incessant sound of squawking is gone. Those eyes, those knowing and intense eyes, no longer look at them with reproach from behind the cage bars. The beak no longer threatens them with pain. The nightmare is over.

It is our ignorance of their nature, our ignorance of the preventive measures, our ignorance of the antidotes that turns these beautiful creatures into living gargoyles.

Parrots and cockatoos take us by surprise. Even though they are a mystery they seem safe enough behind those metal bars and most people are comforted by that. “I can bring it out when I feel like it and then put it back,” many would say. No one tells them that having a parrot is like having a five-year-old with a pair of pliers and a foghorn. No one mentions to them that the five-year-old will go through puberty and be a teenage five-year-old. You can break their spirit but they will always remain wild.

you don't want to learn the hard way

Usually, the personality changes come slowly over a period of weeks. A young parrot will respond to the inappropriate petting of a human. Most people sexually arouse these wild animals and bring out their protective instincts by petting them down the back or under the wings. There are so many pitfalls that in a short time the birds have been taught to bite, scream and act like angry children. It’s not the bird’s fault. And, since the people have no idea what a parrot is, it’s not their fault either. A frustrated parrot can bring out the worst in those who do not understand their nature. Only education can change the vicious cycle of adoption, fear and loathing, and relinquishment.

If we can learn to see that both sides suffer then we can apply a salve to both wounds healing both the human hearts and the winged ones as well. The more we educate others the less suffering there will be on both sides.

As we spread the word about the true nature of parrots and cockatoos they will find loving companions. We will also help others to avoid the pain and suffering that goes with trying to own something beyond their understanding.