Pet

Animal Families – A Special Section of the Addison Independent, Monday, March 24, 2014 — PAGE 17

Special Section

Animal Families

Parrots are lifelong pets

By CHRISTY LYNN MIDDLEBURY — It’s not every day you walk into a candy store and are greeted by a large exotic bird.

But when visiting Middlebury Sweets in East Shop owner Blanca Jenne brings a macaw parrot to the shop with her almost every day.

The beginning Jenne is an avid bird lover and has kept parrots for almost 16 years.

“They’re full of personality and endlessly entertaining,” she says. “Each bird has a very different personality — just like people — so it’s fun and challenging to get to know them and build a level of trust.” store back in 1998 when she was drawn to a small Quaker parrot. Though she had never been especially interested in birds, did not grow up with them as part of her family and hadn’t had a lot of exposure to birds as pets, Jenne did some research and decided to give it a go. parrot, got bit several times and all of that, but I was trying and knew I just had to get through it and learn from it.”

contracted a disease and only lived two years.

But Jenne was hooked nonetheless.

Her next bird was a larger and more challenging parrot, an African Grey, a breed known for its intelligence and ability to mimic speech. Jenne got Quincy from a breeder and has been his sole owner for nearly 14 years.

“I’ve done a lot of Internet research over the years,” she says. “I’m active on parrot forums and really started to get obsessed with it.”

About a year ago, after 13 years of being the only bird in the house, Quincy’s solitary life got a lot livelier. family in about a year,” Jenne says.

In April, Jenne adopted Savannah, a greenwing macaw that had been living with an elderly woman who at the age of 90 felt she could no longer care for the bird.

Savannah is a large but easy-going and goodnatured parrot that has adapted to life with Jenne and travels to and from the candy shop quite naturally.

Jenne has even rigged a perch for Savannah to (See Parrots, Page 18)

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BLANCA JENNE GETS some love from Savannah, a green-wing macaw that she adopted last year. In addition to Savannah, Jenne cares for four other exotic birds.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

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PAGE 18 — Animal Families – A Special Section of the Addison Independent, Monday, March 24, 2014

Animal Families Parrots (Continued from Page 17) ride on while in the car. “She just stays put and isn’t bothered, so she can ride for short distances out of a cage.”

In May, just a month after having adopted Savannah, Jenne received a call from another family looking to give her another macaw. At the time, Jenne declined the offer and the bird found another home. and told that that home had failed and the parrot was again in need.

So they took Coqui in at the end of October, a brilliant blue and gold macaw who is mischievous, talkative and a “drama queen,” according to Jenne.

Care and Attention

The parrots need a lot of time to explore and exercise and also require a lot of attention, she explains. Each day Jenne makes sure she reserves at least a half an hour of one on one t i m e

BLANCA JENNE HAS had Quincy, an African Grey parrot, for nearly 14 years. African Greys are known for their ability to mimic vocabulary and intonations. Jenne says Quincy knows over 100 words and phrases and can mimic voices so well that it can be hard to distinguish between the bird and her own husband.

with each of the three parrots, which includes him anxious. “lap time,” where they sit with her on her lap, and Naturally, when in the store, the birds she pets them, plays with them and talks to them. command a lot of attention. While wandering “I don’t force the birds to let me pet them,” the store selecting sweets, customers will talk to she says, “but they do have to allow me to handle the birds and stop to chat with Jenne about her them and move them, because that’s a safety passion for them. concern. Whether they are in the mood to be pet The birds squawk loudly in the store, enjoy — that’s their prerogative and I won’t force it.” tearing up newspaper and make messes around The other two birds that joined the family are their cage. But they are a funny, charming and lineolated parakeets, purchased beautiful addition to the shop. primarily for Jenne’s two kids “Birds aren’t (ages four and seven), who are Parrots as pets not yet allowed to handle the easy. They’re “Anyone looking to get a parrot should think hard about it and a lot of work “The kids love watching the really do their research,” Jenne parrots and the parrots actually and an says, “Birds aren’t easy. They’re love them as well, but there are incredible a lot of work and an incredible pretty strict rules in our house for commitment, especially as they interaction with the birds, as they commitment, often will outlive their caregiver.” can be aggressive and unsafe especially as “It’s incredibly sad, but you for the kids who aren’t trusted hear far too many stories about by them yet,” Jenne says. The they often will parrots and other birds that are “linnies,” as they’re known, are outlive their poorly cared for and lead really even-tempered and offer a fun terrible lives,” she says. caregiver.” and safe introduction to keeping While the illegal bird trade — Blanca Jenne where wild birds are caught birds for kids and novice bird tenders. and forced into captivity is less “We are fortunate in our home to have a common and more carefully monitored than it dedicated bird room,” Jenne says, where used to be, Jenne believes there is a problem with each of the birds has their own cage and too many exotic birds in a small market.

The issue, Jenne explains, is that these birds most birds, Jenne’s parrots don’t inter- live 40 or 50 years and can change homes several act with each other. times. There are too many parrots looking for “They’re all different species and good homes already out there to warrant breeders different sizes, so they could be aggres- bringing new ones in. sive or territorial with each other,” she At 44 years old, Jenne says she expects to have explains. these parrots for the rest of her life.

“We do have them written into our will and wildly jealous — Quincy had been there before also hope that our children continue to develop her, but she couldn’t seem to understand Coqui.” the passion for them that we have and may adopt Savannah has a loud and piercing cry and was them when the time is right,” Jenne said. quite noisy for a while after the introduction of But, she says, too often families buy a parrot a new bird. When Jenne would pay her atten- without understanding how much work they are tion, Savannah would relish it, displaying extra to keep and how long they live. affection.

“They’re not always willing to go through Working birds Coqui and Savannah take turns the hormonal swings parrots experience and the joining Jenne at Middlebury Sweets. Quincy temperamental changes over the years, so they stays home, as the busy store atmosphere makes

Homeward Bound: Addison County’s Humane Society

C

Offers Trap-Neuter-Release for Feral and Barn Cats

at overpopulation may be one of the most important animal welfare issues facing our communities today in Addison County.

unfortunately are often unaltered and multiply at an alarming rate.

T

o address this issue, some people will simply drop these cats off at the Addison County Humane Society (ACHS) or will attempt to eliminate these colonies by killing the cats. Neither of these options offers a long-term solution to the problem. The most effective and humane way to care for and ultimately reduce the barn and feral cat population is through the Trap-NeuterRelease Program (TNR) offered by ACHS. Through this program, ACHS and their volunteers humanely trap these cats, have them spayed/neutered and rabies vaccinated, and returned to their original location. The result of this effort is a managed colony that offers many advantages:

aggressive. spread of disease. decrease.

Homeward Bound

BLANCA JENNE, SEEN here with Savannah, has been raising exotic birds for 16 years and currently cares for three parrots and two parakeets.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

homes.

Jenne and other owners of exotic animals are also faced with the challenging questions regarding the humaneness of keeping naturally wild animals in captivity.

“It’s true that this is not the natural life that these animals would live in the wild,” she says, “but the reality is that they are being bred and so we’re willing and happy to give them a great home.” to provide her parrots with a high-quality life that is about as good as any parrot born into captivity can look forward to, and since they’re in this world anyway, that’s about as good as she can do.

“I love them to death,” Jenne says. “I love the bond that you’re able to form and the challenge each one presents and I’m really glad they’re a part of my life.”

In the candy shop, Jenne bounces between making candies and chocolates, working with her employees to stock and monitor all the supplies, answering phone calls and making sure all is well with the parrot she has in the store.

Jenne enjoys a moment with Coqui perched on her arm and its blue head nuzzled in her chest.

“I’ll tell you one thing, the love you give to them, they’ll give it back to you tenfold,” she says.

I

n 2013, ACHS spayed and neutered more than 100 cats through our Trap-Neuter-Release Program and we anticipate the number increasing this year. However, ACHS needs your help to continue providing this service. property and you are willing to continue feeding and looking after these cats, ACHS will help you trap these cats, have them spayed/neutered and vaccinated and will help you release them back at the site. release the cats, transport to medical services, and oversee colonies to ensure their well being. by any organization and relies upon donations from the community to support its service. The cost to have one cat spayed/neutered and vaccinated is $60.00. The more donations we receive the more cats we can help. Please send a check to ACHS and write “Feral Cats” in the memo section of the check.

REMEMBER: TNR is the only humane method of dealing with feral cats!

Animal Families – A Special Section of the Addison Independent, Monday, March 24, 2014 — PAGE 19

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again. Any remaining moisture could lead to mold and mildew that can cause rotten, unhealthy seed.

A l s o , take time to remove seed and droppings in nearby a r e a s where birds congregate.

Birds can spill seed and leave debris several feet away from feeders.

Clean birdfeeders and feeding areas will attract more birds and keep them healthier for birders to enjoy.

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OFF

MONTPELIER — Feeding birds in the winter is a lot of fun, but it can also cause diseases to spread quickly among wild birds, which is why the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says it is important to clean your birdfeeders regularly.

Bacteria and fungi can cause diseases such as aspergillosis, salmonella and conjunctivitis. Species commonly affected by bird feeder diseases a r e redpolls, p i n e siskins, goldfinches, sparrows and cardinals.

All feeders should be thoroughly cleaned on a monthly basis. A solution of one part bleach to nine parts hot water is recommended to kill bacteria. Hot water with unscented dish detergent also does an excellent job. Wear rubber gloves to avoid any contamination. Be sure to clean inside and

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PAGE 20 — Animal Families – A Special Section of the Addison Independent, Monday, March 24, 2014

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