Information and Disclaimer regarding Avian Rescue/Adoption/Placement/Sanctuary Organizations

Placing your bird with an avian welfare organization can be a difficult and stressful process.  Attempting to adopt a bird from one of these groups can also feel frustrating and labor-intensive.  Quality, ethical rescue/placement/sanctuary organizations must be strict in regards to their standards of care, and in their adoption processes, in order to ensure any birds they are responsible for only go into proper living situations.  While it may feel like you have to jump through hoops in order to adopt a needy bird, please know that most avian rescue groups are only trying to be sure that birds entrusted to their care will be placed into a lifelong, happy home that is right for each individual bird.

Finding a good rescue to adopt from or to relinquish a parrot to is difficult.  Please read the following article: Guidelines for Placing Your Bird. 

We recommend the following groups that accredit animal care facilities.  A rescue facility that is accredited by any of these groups should still be screened thoroughly:

The Association of Sanctuaries

The American Sanctuary Association

Model Aviculture Program (while specifically designed to accredit breeding facilities, their standards are appropriate for rescue facilities as well). 

CAN'T FIND AN AVIAN RESCUE/ADOPTION FACILITY NEAR YOU?

Besides our avian rescue/placement/sanctuary list, please check out the following resources:

Avian Rescue Online allows you to search for rescues by state. 

You can also check the World Parrot Welfare Alliance's Big List.  

Kyler Laird's Animal Rescue Resources is also a good site.

Parrot Chronicles Avian Rescue List is helpful.

Also, many bird clubs have adoption programs. 

Click Here to search for a no-kill shelter.

Some rescue/placement/sanctuary groups will attempt to rehabilitate birds who are not of "pet quality", so that they can be adopted out into "pet" homes.  Other groups provide sanctuary where birds are allowed and encouraged to form social bonds with other birds instead of humans.  Some groups may decide to donate certain birds to breeding programs, or allow their resident birds to breed.  The APS attempts to screen these groups out and will not list an organization that admits it allows birds to breed, or that will adopt birds out to breeding situations. 

Lost your bird?  Found a bird? http://www.birdhotline.com/ can help.

To submit a rescue organization for listing, please email us with the name of the rescue, website address, email address, and any other information you believe is pertinent.  Webmaster reserves the right to refuse to list any rescue organization that we believe is breeding birds or keeping birds in inhumane conditions.  Listing on this page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.

Please note that the fact that a shelter is listed does not guarantee that the organization is reliable and reputable.  We are not able to verify the authenticity or quality of these organizations. We strongly recommend that you personally thoroughly investigate the credibility and background of any shelter before you adopt a bird from them or entrust a bird to them.

BACK to the Rescue/Placement/Sanctuary Listing Page.