Does anyone know if this is a legitimate sanctuary? It looks very, very good in the website pictures and description BUT they do not allow any visitors whatsoever, have any outside volunteers, and state they will absolutely not take or post any photographs or videos of the birds or their sanctuary. I also do not see any reference to any vets they use. They are set up as a non-profit and take donations. My problem is that if absolutely nobody is allowed to see the place and check up on the situation, or even make sure the birds are still alive, under any circumstances, is there really a cockatoo sanctuary or is it some kind of money raising scam?
I'm asking because I'm getting old, and my Moluccan cockatoo is going to outlive me and I need to find someplace for him to go after my death. I've had him since he was 5 and at his age I don't want him to go into the "rehome" merry-go-round routine or even worse, the breeder trade. He was one of the thousands of wild-caught babies taken during the 1980's when native trappers were trying to beat the deadline on the regulations stopping the trade. He was imported by a man here in the U.S. as a weaned fledgling, and when he was 5 the family decided they wanted to tour the country in a Winnebago every summer and the motorhome wasn't big enough for them and the bird too. And so it goes. Anyway, the bird and I have been roommates through three homes and 28 years, and while he is in his prime at 33, I am now an elderly retiree. After living with one human and no other hookbills for most of his life, he's not likely to adjust well to a multiple parrot/family situation. And older cockatoos, especially big loud destructive ones that were not hand raised babies, are not good housemates for most people. Does anyone know an actual well-run sanctuary for older cockatoos to go to when their human partner dies? Understand, I'm not expecting to kick the bucket any time soon, but life is uncertain, my younger relatives need to know what they are supposed to do with any pets who outlive me, and Max the cockatoo will be the one that's problematic.
I'm asking because I'm getting old, and my Moluccan cockatoo is going to outlive me and I need to find someplace for him to go after my death. I've had him since he was 5 and at his age I don't want him to go into the "rehome" merry-go-round routine or even worse, the breeder trade. He was one of the thousands of wild-caught babies taken during the 1980's when native trappers were trying to beat the deadline on the regulations stopping the trade. He was imported by a man here in the U.S. as a weaned fledgling, and when he was 5 the family decided they wanted to tour the country in a Winnebago every summer and the motorhome wasn't big enough for them and the bird too. And so it goes. Anyway, the bird and I have been roommates through three homes and 28 years, and while he is in his prime at 33, I am now an elderly retiree. After living with one human and no other hookbills for most of his life, he's not likely to adjust well to a multiple parrot/family situation. And older cockatoos, especially big loud destructive ones that were not hand raised babies, are not good housemates for most people. Does anyone know an actual well-run sanctuary for older cockatoos to go to when their human partner dies? Understand, I'm not expecting to kick the bucket any time soon, but life is uncertain, my younger relatives need to know what they are supposed to do with any pets who outlive me, and Max the cockatoo will be the one that's problematic.