Mango was three years old when I adopted him. He is now 20 years old and is wonderful with me and I love him very much. On occasion I have been bitten, only once badly when I prevented him from biting my husband, but extremely rarely. He is healthy, behaves well when with me, loves being petted and does cute tricks but he attacks my husband, who does not play with or pet him but will care for Mango if I am away (cover/feed etc.) My husband is nice to Mango but if given an opportunity (often when my attention is diverted or I leave the room briefly), Mango will quickly rush to bite him, usually the feet. Vince is able to have Mango step up and move him from cage to cage without biting if I am away. Vince has sustained three bad bites, two to the ear and these were sneak attacks. Each time I considered surrendering him but I was so upset we just decided to make some changes to our routine with him and for the most part, it worked. Once I retired, Mango would be with me good portions of the day and just hang around on his varied perch areas. When Vince came home in the evening, it was cage time. Once my husband retired, I was not able to have Mango out of the cage as often during the day, though I make time for him morning, afternoon and evening for briefer social/play time. If I go outside on the deck with Mango and Vince wants to join me, Mango ends up having to go in because he just will not understand that he cannot sit on Vince's leg or arm. Mango cannot be trusted. He loves my two adult daughters and my sisters and is extremely gentle with them but has bitten their husbands (not often and not badly) Today, I was taking Mango out to trim his nails (which he does not like but if I have it done by the vet, he will get so upset he seizures) and he quickly jumped to the floor (he is wing clipped) and bit Vince's toe, while Vince was just sitting reading. My husband was furious and I don't blame him.
Another life change has occurred. Grandchildren. One a few months old and another on the way. I will be doing some babysitting and I do know that Mango cannot be near the children. I will be more often away from home and have less time to spend with him. I do not trust Mango out of the cage around children through he enjoys them from inside his cage.
I need you to know, Mango has three cages in different parts of the home. He enjoys each of them different times of the day and this helps with screaming which he does not do when I am home. If I leave the house and it is just Vince and Mango, Mango will scream so he goes to his upstairs cage.
I feel that I need to surrender Mango and I am broken hearted for myself and him. I wanted to go the distance with Mango and I am 66 now so I of course worry about my life expectancy vs. his. He is even in our will with surrender and money to go to the Lonely Grey Rescue, who I have called twice before and then backed out of doing a surrender. I know you might not understand this but I sometimes feel it would be better to euthanize Mango rather than have him go to a home, get aggressive and be mistreated or ignored and neglected. I would appreciate advice but I must say that for the first time, I am seriously considering a surrender and really need a good place. I live in the Philadelphia area. The only other choice for Mango staying with me is more cage time with lots of toys and never being out of the cage with other people in the room under any circumstances. Thoughts appreciated.