Should I be concerned or am I being overprotective? Please, please, please read! I need your opinions!?

Question

I'm sorry this is really long but PLEASE READ:

Hello. I really want to get your guys' opinions about this situation.

I work at a pet store and one of my favorite things are the birds, particularly our conures. We only have one conure at a time, and I always consider them my little projects, because they are usually at the store for a while due to their higher costs. 

Last year, our store bird was a Green Cheek Conure who we named Chewy. He was a very cuddly bird and loved to snuggle. He was sold sometime around November or early December. I didn't sell him, so unforunately I don't know the people who bought him as well as I would like. I am very picky when it comes to people taking my babies home. =)

Well, as it turns out, Chewy is now dead. =( I'm so sad!!! It's very unfair. >:( I told you he was a cuddly bird; well, that became his downfall. He snuggled into a blanket, suffocated, and died after only being with his family for 6 months. =(

Now here's the thing: the family who bought Chewy has been very interested in our CURRENT store bird, Chico (another Green Cheek). I've talked to the woman and her daughter for a little bit. They seem like very nice people...but I just can't help but wonder what the circumstances of Chewy's death were!!! How could this have happened without them noticing? Would a smothered bird not struggle? Should I assume they were not paying attention to the bird at the time? I can't just ask for details! That would be awful...I can tell from talking to them that they loved this bird dearly. But I just question the quality of care they were giving him. We were talking about different quirks of the two birds. Other things I picked up on were that they were big on giving Chewy junk food. While I'll admit I will treat my animals to the occasional junky treat, I really encourage using fruits and veggies as the main treats...I told them Chico's favorite things were peppers and red fruits and they said something like they had never tried that...??? No fruits and veggies??? Aeeeiiikkk!! D: The woman also proudly said how attached to her Chewy had become, to the point where he would draw blood when other members of the family tried to take him away from her. I know Chico is also going to have this one-person-bird tendency, as he has already had the problem with me. I have worked very hard to quell this behavior. He still shows a strong preference for me but he has improved SO much. I hate to think that I would be sending him to a home where he will be ENCOURAGED to regress back to his one-person-bird ways. =(

In these peoples' defense, I am a huge stickler for the rules when it comes to animals. I think if you take responsibilty for another living thing, then you need to be able to provide it the BEST care. I realize that in reality, many people are content with only providing minimally required care. I know minimal isn't necessarilly BAD, though. It's just not as good as GREAT care...And I also know that to err is human. Am I overreacting to these peoples' mistakes? Should I give them the benefit of the doubt and believe that they will learn from their past experiences?

I don't KNOW that these people are going to buy Chico. But they stop by about once a week just to say hi to him and play with him through the bars of the cage...so I think there is a good possibility they will consider it. I'm just not really sure what to think or do in this situation...I don't want to be insensitive to their loss, but I also want to make sure my Chiricochicarico goes to the perfect home...So what are your thoughts on this situation.

I'm sorry this is so long!!!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Don't be afraid to bring up your concerns to them or anyone interested in buying the bird. 

Many people don't even know what they are doing is wrong. 
They are interested in the bird, never owned one, who ever sold the bird says they are easy to care for, just follow the care sheet that gives you the BARE information. And they don't even think to research diet, cage, toys, or behavior further then the care sheet they receive. 
Recommend to them books they should read on conure care and behavior before they buy.

You would not believe how common it is that new parrot owners lose a bird to suffocation in the blankets. What happens is the bird is under the covers, the person falls asleep and the person wakes up to a suffocated and dead bird. It is a horrible feeling, people tell me, to know in the night you shifted and your bird got caught in the folds and couldn't breathe.
So they don't often go into detail about it.

I don't know where you work but even stores like petsmart have the right to turn away customers if they feel they are not right for the animal.

Bookworm · Answer

I think you are right in the middle. I would be the exact same way. I would hate it, and certainly not trust a family who had (lets say) adopted a dog and the dog died because the people gave it human food to excessively. I would certainly not want them coming back to get another animal. I know it doesnt seem like their fault, but they obviously were not watching the bird to carefully when it was out. You need to make sure that when the bird is out they will watch over it and be EXTREMELY carfeul when it is out. Carelessness can harm a lot of things...even birds ;) but seriously, choose carefully.

How Is Babby Formed · Answer

i am an animal lover too. isnt it your responsibility to make sure the pet u sell is a good match with the new owners? talk to the owner of the store and raise these concerns.

it would be awful if they let the bird sleep with them or something!

holom · Answer

Your issues sound fair to me. I can not appreciate why a little one could be positioned "in holiday" on account that her ankle itched and he or she used to be scratching it. The trainer will have to have checked for a rash or insect chew and, if integral, taken her to the nurse or referred to as you. The gash incident is particularly worrisome. Any head harm will have to elevate flags, and mum and dad will have to be referred to as. The quandary is that given that you may have been combating this wrestle on my own, you can be obtaining a popularity for being a troublemaker, so the institution officers are ignoring you. Is there a guardian arrangement? If different mum and dad have skilled an identical issues, then I suppose you will have to social gathering and draw up a record of issues to be awarded as a organization. It could also be useful to get a different guardian to behave as chief. If you can not do this, or if it is useless, then relocating is also the one resolution.

Very General · Answer

That's one of the problems with working at a pet store. Unless your store has a different policy, you are required to sell to whomever has the money. Your personal opinion means nothing.

Moped Mama · Answer

well you can buy him and sell privately, or quarantine him until you see if they come back...  perhaps they will look at a different bird if its appears to be  sick? bird business is selling birds your not a foster family finding perfect homes.. so cut the heart strings... sorry tough  bird love!

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Should I be concerned or am I being overprotective? Please, please, please read! I need your opinions!?

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