🦜 Adoption, Not Retail: Give Rescued Parrots a Second Chance

End the Retail Sale of Parrots and Support Rescue-Based Adoption

To: Petco, PetSmart, independent pet stores, pet industry leaders, and animal welfare advocates

Parrots deserve loving, permanent homes—not price tags.

We call on major pet store chains and independent retailers to end the commercial sale of parrots and other companion birds and replace those sales with responsible adoption programs developed in partnership with reputable avian rescues and sanctuaries.

This does not mean placing rescued birds in retail cages under the label of adoption. It means creating a system that prioritizes each parrot’s physical, emotional, and psychological welfare while helping rescued, surrendered, and displaced birds find knowledgeable, lifelong homes.

Instead of selling another parrot, help an existing parrot find a forever home.

Why This Change Is Needed

Many parrots are surrendered or rehomed when caregivers can no longer meet their needs. These intelligent, social animals form strong bonds, require daily enrichment and specialized care, and may live for decades. Their long lifespans and complex needs make impulse purchases especially concerning.

Continued retail sales bring more birds into the pet market while rescue organizations struggle to find homes for parrots already in need. Repeated rehoming can be stressful and harmful to birds that depend on stable relationships and routines.

Reputable avian rescues can provide education, counseling, adoption screening, and careful matching between individual birds and prospective caregivers. They also need greater public awareness, funding, supplies, volunteers, and placement opportunities.

Pet stores can support bird owners without selling birds by continuing to offer food, toys, enrichment products, cages, perches, and educational resources while promoting rescue and responsible care.

Adoption Without Retail Confinement

We do not want parrots removed from commercial sales only to be placed in pet store cages under the label of adoption. An adoption fee does not automatically improve a bird’s quality of life, and busy retail environments may expose parrots to constant noise, unfamiliar people, disrupted routines, limited exercise, and stressful interactions.

Adoptable parrots should remain in appropriate rescue facilities or qualified foster homes until suitable adopters are found.

Under this model:

Pet stores would display photographs, biographies, and adoption information for rescued parrots.
Interested customers would be connected directly with participating avian rescues.
Rescues would manage applicant screening, home evaluations, education, and placement decisions.
Birds would remain in appropriate rescue or foster environments throughout the adoption process.
Prospective adopters could arrange supervised meetings through the rescue organization.
Pet stores could host educational events, fundraisers, supply drives, and rescue awareness campaigns without requiring birds to be transported or displayed.
Any in-person event involving birds would be carefully evaluated to protect their safety, comfort, and welfare.
The purpose of adoption is to improve a bird’s life—not to create another reason to keep parrots on display.

What We Are Asking Pet Stores to Do

We call on Petco, PetSmart, and independent pet stores to:

Phase out the commercial retail sale of parrots and other companion birds.
Partner with reputable avian rescues to promote adoption instead of retail purchasing.
Keep adoptable birds in appropriate rescue or foster environments rather than routinely housing them in retail cages.
Create in-store adoption information centers with bird profiles, photographs, rescue contact information, and educational materials.
Support rescue-managed screening and matching to ensure adopters understand each bird’s needs and can provide an appropriate home.
Support rescues through donations, fundraising, supply drives, and public awareness campaigns.
Educate prospective caregivers about parrot behavior, social needs, lifespan, nutrition, enrichment, veterinary care, and lifelong responsibility.
Establish responsible transition plans for birds already in stores, ensuring appropriate care and placement throughout the phaseout.
Our Vision

Pet stores can become places where people learn about parrots, support rescues, donate supplies, and begin the journey toward responsible adoption.

Instead of seeing birds displayed for sale, customers could learn about rescued parrots’ personalities, histories, needs, and ideal homes. Rescue representatives could provide guidance and arrange meetings in appropriate environments.

The birds would remain where their welfare can be protected, while pet stores help connect them with suitable families.

Please Sign and Share

By signing this petition, you are calling on major pet store chains and independent retailers to replace commercial parrot sales with ethical, rescue-based adoption partnerships that prioritize each bird’s well-being.

We are not asking people to stop welcoming parrots into their families. We are asking pet stores to help ensure that birds already in need receive the care, stability, and lifelong homes they deserve.

Stop selling parrots. Start supporting rescues.

Promote adoption without unnecessary confinement.

Put the welfare of birds before the sale of birds.

🦜 Adoption, Not Retail

❤️ Second Chances, Not Sales

🏡 Loving Homes, Not Store Cages

Their lives deserve more than a price tag.