Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture
Adopt-a-Bird Program Guidelines
Goal ~
To find the best possible home for the bird(s) in terms of
promoting health, well being and longevity.
Adoption Committee
The
AAB committee will consist of one manager and up to three club members,
all of whom have been members for a minimum of six months. Members
wishing to serve will be nominated by the AAB manager and approved by
the general membership by a simple majority vote. Any committee member
not able to serve the length of their term shall be replaced with
another club member by a majority membership vote.
The
AAB committee manager will keep all applications for the bird(s) being
placed. Committee members shall keep all applications confidential.
Committee members or their designees will foster bird(s) received into
the program. Acquisition of each bird shall be accompanied by a release
form signed by the original owner whenever possible.
The
AAB manager will maintain placement records of all birds in the program.
The AAB manager reserves to
right to make decisions for situations as they arise, with notice and
agreement of the committee.
Decisions of the committee are final. Any grievance must be made in
writing and submitted to a member of the RMSA Board of Directors or
chair of the Adopt-a-Bird committee. If a question occurs, all members
on the RMSA Board will be contacted before action is taken.
Adoption Guidelines and Procedures
Birds for adoption will be available at the first general meeting
following acceptance into the program. With approval of the RMSA board,
photographs of a given bird(s) may be presented to the membership in
lieu of having the actual bird(s) attend the meeting when it is
considered by the AAB manager that it is not in the bird(s) best
interest to be shown publicly.
An
AdoptionQuestionnaire must be completed and on file with
the AAB manager prior to applying to adopt through the program.
Applicants must submit an adoption application to the committee
on or before the general meeting when the bird(s) will be placed. Any
application that has missing information (including failure to enclose
fee) or that is illegible will be disqualified. A junior member may
submit an application for adoption with written permission from a parent
or legal guardian.
Applications will be considered for one specific bird or pair of birds.
Multiple adoptions on the same application will not be considered.
Adoptions will be completed at regular general meetings.
Bird(s) adopted through the program must remain with the new
owner for a period of not less than one year. No bird can be
sold, given away, traded, re-homed or placed on breeder loan for a
period of one year from the date of adoption. The bird(s) may be
returned for re-adoption at any time.
Applications for adoption may be denied by the AAB committee due
to any adverse treatment of previously acquired bird(s), failure to
comply with AAB guidelines, or other reasons deemed feasible by the AAB
committee. This history will be maintained by the AAB manager and will
be available to the AAB committee only.
The
applicant must provide adequate housing, ample opportunity for exercise
and play, and a diet consistent with the species being adopted.
Applicants accepting an adoption will make arrangements to receive the
bird(s), quarantine accordingly, and relay any major problems back to
the AAB committee for assessment.
In
the case of extremely rare and endangered birds, every effort to
repopulate the species must be attempted. If no member of RMSA or other
Colorado avian club has a potential mate for these bird(s), the
committee then must go on a national level for potential partners and
place them in the best possible breeding situation. Qualified AAB
committee members or designees will foster these bird(s) until
placement.
Birds in category A will be available to applicants with 1 year
membership or more. If no applications are received, they may be
available to members with 6 months membership. The second month they
may be available to all members with one month membership or longer.
If, after 3 months, no applications have been received for a certain
bird(s), they may be made available to members of other Colorado avian
clubs or rescues, then to the general public. Fees for the general
public will be twice the amount, plus $25. The AAB committee will
conduct screening.
Birds in category B and C will be available to applicants with 6 months
membership or longer. If no applications are received from members of 6
months or longer, applications may be open to all members with one month
membership or longer. After the third month, if no applications have
been received for a certain bird(s), they may be made available to
members of other Colorado avian clubs or rescues, then to the general
public. Fees for the general public will be twice the amount, plus
$25. The AAB committee will conduct screening.
Birds in categories D and E will be available to members with one month
membership or longer. After the third month, if no applications have
been received for a certain bird(s), they may be made available to
members of other Colorado avian clubs or rescues, then to the general
public. Fees for the general public will be twice the amount, plus
$25. The AAB committee will conduct screening.
When only one application is received for a certain bird(s) and approved
by the AAB committee, that applicant will be granted adoption. In the
case of two or more approved applicants, the new home will be selected
by a drawing of names. Those applicant(s) must be present for the
adoption or arrange for a representative to be present.
When necessary, value of bird(s) will be assessed by current Colorado
market value by the AAB committee and the RMSA Board and appropriate
fees collected. Special circumstances will be assessed on
hard-to-place, handicapped, special needs, or extended vet-care birds.
Fees collected from applications will be managed by the RMSA treasurer
in a separate AAB bank account and shall be divided into 3 areas: 50% to
avian research, 25% to special care adoption, and 25% to RMSA treasury
at the end of each calendar year. Monies left over from special care
will be placed back into RMSA AAB funds.
Birds may come into the program without adequate cages, toys or diet, or
may come into the program without a cage, toys or previous diet. It is
understood that the adoptive family is responsible to supply an adequate
cage, toys and diet.
All
psittacine transfers will be made in accordance with applicable state
and federal regulations.
Adoption fees are non-refundable, even if the bird(s) is not awarded to
the potential adopter.
RMSA and its agents accept no liability for death and/or disease of
adopted bird(s) whether contagious or non-contagious. RMSA and its
agents will not be held responsible for any damage to property or the
health or safety of any persons, or the health or safety of any birds
currently residing in an adoptive home due to the introduction of bird(s)
from the RMSA AAB program. It is expected that the adoptive parent(s)
will seek immediate veterinary care if there are any problems. It is
suggested that adopted birds receive a well-bird check by an avian
veterinarian as soon as possible after adoption, and that quarantine
procedures are followed. Veterinary expenses will be the total
responsibility of the adoptive parent(s) unless otherwise agreed to by
the Adopt-a-Bird committee.
