Hoarder’s 836 Parakeets Surprise Shelter

They could have handled a partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, three French hens and maybe even a leaping lord, but then this arrived at an animal shelter in Michigan right before Christmas: a local man with more than 400 parakeets, crammed inside just seven cages. That’s a lot of parakeets and a few days later he returned with another 400 or so for a total of 836. Now they were overwhelmed.

The man reportedly said his father, who was just possibly a hoarder with mental issues, had kept the birds in cages in one room of his house, and had been spending $1,200 a month to keep them fed.

"A Christmas present we were not expecting," the Detroit Animal Welfare Group wrote on Facebook. "The irresponsibility of the owner is infuriating. We were in shock but could not turn them away."

The group has been helped by four partner organizations to help house the birds and give them needed veterinary care. Since the news broke the community has offered to help foster and adopt the birds, which will happen over time. Meanwhile the rescue is reminding any would-be adopters that a parakeet takes a 6-15 year commitment that requires daily interaction and enrichment, tender care that this gigantic flock never knew – until now.

If you would like to help, you can donate to the four rescues that have the birds: DAWG: dawghous.com; Jojos Flying Friends: https://bit.ly/3pCKEVd: Birds and Beaks www.birdsandbeaks.org/donate; East Michigan Bird Rescue PayPal: budster1386@yahoo.com

Photo credit: WXYZ.com