George,

Looks like you are a person who likes birds...all kinds of birds. So do I.

As a person who has been interested in birds, bird conservation and bird preservation, I am also interested in exotic birds, both in the wild and in aviaries and homes in the US. I also work on issues related to education, conservation, breeding, legislation and regulation.

In the case of the Matt Smith bird sanctuary, apparently he was knowingly or unknowingly brought into what can best be described as a "predatory" rescue mission involving macaws owned by a person who had been recently forced to move their aviaries because they lost their home due to a mortgage scam....and were given short notice... TWO DAYS to move all their belongings. The birds' owners did not leave their birds behind when they moved. They moved their birds onto a nearby property owned by a neighbor who gave them permission to use his property for that purpose - they DID NOT abandon their birds. They fed and watered their birds at that location, and they did not abuse their birds or deprive them of appropriate care. The parties who seized the birds know, or should know, this.

The predatory rescue took place after their move, at the instigation of at least one person who was alleged to have previously stolen two of the macaws and who later worked with the local animal control to claim the birds were abandoned and needed to be confiscated.

This case is typical of what we are seeing across the US...not just with people who have birds, but with people who have a few show dogs, a few show cats, high dollar horses with blood lines of value, etc. Often the confiscation is based on allegations of cruelty or lack of proper care, or that the animal owner has not complied with some local ordinance regarding numbers of animals allowed on xx number of acres or lot size. In cases where the animal owner has the funds and the stamina and courage, they take the matter to court and win their animals back...often at a tremendous financial cost and a cost to their reputations for the false allegations. In most cases the local authorities scare the animal owners with significant jail time and significant legal costs so that the animal owners cave in and "give up ownership" of their animals. This is a form of animal scam that might be labeled as "legalized animal theft."

Although those who confiscate the animals will allege abuse or cruelty, the real goal in most of these cases is to gain control of the animals and then: 1) SELL THEM (they call it adopting them out, but a price tag is attached); , or 2) remove animals from breeding situations and place them where they will never breed again, (as if there is some EVIL attached to animal breeding); or 3) seek DONATIONS for the "rescuing" organization (sometimes the local humane society, sometimes a 'formal' entity established as a rescue or a sanctuary).

Humane societies and rescue/sanctuaries that obtain allegedly abused animals can generate a great deal of money thru fund raising for these "poor terribly abused" creatures. In some rescue/sanctuary cases, the people who run these organizations "make their living" off the donations...they pay their transport, utilities, rent, etc. and even travel, from donations for these "abused" animals. We Americans are a soft hearted bunch when it comes to our animals...we love them and we will donate to improve their lives. Some individuals have discovered that this is a great way to make a living. When animal auctions are held, rescuers bid for the most wretched looking one-eyed broken legged critters...because they will be excellent for fund raising! One unfortunate aspect of this 'rescue business' is that often those running the facilities have very limited experience with the type of birds or animals they now house. These individuals will seldom be found in seminars or conferences or taking online classes to educate themselves about their wards...to the detriment of those birds and animals. In some cases, these rescue/sanctuaries are simply glorified warehouses!

Now, there are legitimate decent caring rescue/sanctuary folks who do a great job with animals of all types, but you generally do NOT find these people involved in a "predatory rescue" event. They also are willing to adopt out animals to new owners without going through nine yards of paperwork and impossible requirements. This is because they care about the animals, not what the animals are doing for the rescue/sanctuary in terms of bringing in donations!

I thought you might be interested in the above since you had an article about Matt Smith on your site.

It is unknown at this time what Mr. Smith knows of the actual facts of the macaw case, since it is likely that those who confiscated the birds have given their "story" to Smith and encouraged him to participate in their activities.

Sincerely,

Laurella Desborough (Electronic mail, May 29, 2008)

Legislative Chair, Avicultural Society of America http://www.asabirds.org/
P O Box 2552
Middleburg, FL 32050

Note: boldface emphasis is as in the original