adoptguide

Goal ~ To find the best possible home for the bird(s) in terms of promoting health, well-being and longevity.

Adoption Committee

The adoption committee will consist of one chairperson and up to three club members, all of whom have been members for a minimum of six months. Members wishing to serve will be 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 Adopt-a-Bird committee chairman will keep all applications for the bird(s) being placed. Committee members shall keep all applications confidential. If a question occurs, all members on the RMSA Board will be contacted before action is taken.
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.
Bird Chairman.
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.

Adoption Guidelines and Procedures

Birds to be placed 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 Adopt-a-Bird chairman that it is not in the bird(s) best interest to be shown publicly.
An Adoption Questionnaire must be completed and on file with the Adopt-a-Bird chairman prior to applying to adopt through the program.
Applicants must submit an adoption application to the committee on or before the general membership 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 bonded pair. Multiple adoptions on the same application will not be considered.
No club member may adopt more than one bird or one pair of birds in A or B categories per household per 3 month period (per household means any members living at the same address - only one member per address/household may apply at one time in a 3-month period.)
Drawings for adopt-a-birds will be at regular membership 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 Adopt-a-Bird committee due to any adverse treatment of previously acquired bird(s), failure to comply with Adopt-a-Bird guidelines, or other reasons deemed feasible by the Adopt-a-Bird committee.
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 Adopt-a-Bird 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. These bird(s) will be fostered by qualified Adopt-a-Bird committee members or designees until placement.
Birds in categories A, B, and C will be available to applicants with 1 year membership or more. If no applications are received, they will be available to members with 6 months membership at that same meeting. The second month they will be available to all members with one month membership or longer. If, after 2 months, no applications have been received for a certain bird(s), they will 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. Screening will be conducted by the adoption committee.
Birds in category D will be available to applicants with 6 months membership or longer. If no applications are received from members of 6 months or longer, applications will be open to all members with one month membership or longer. After the second month, if no applications have been received for a certain bird(s), they will be made available 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. Screening will be conducted by the adoption committee.
Birds in categories E and F will be available to members with one month membership or longer.
When only one application is received and approved by the Adopt-a-Bird committee, that applicant may take the bird(s) home immediately following that general meeting. In the case of 2 or more approved applicants, the new home will be selected by a drawing of names. Those applicant(s) must be present for the drawing or arrange for a representative to be present.
When necessary, value of bird(s) will be assessed by current Colorado market value by the Adopt-a-Bird 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 and shall be divided into 3 areas: 50% to avian research, 25% to special care adoption, and 25% to RMSA treasury. Monies left over from special care will be placed back into RMSA Adopt-a-Bird funds.
All psittacine transfers will be made in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations.

RMSA and its agents accept no liability for death and/or disease of adoptee 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 Adopt-a-Bird 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.

Rev. 1/2004

CATEGORIES	SPECIES	VALUE	APPLICATION FEE	MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENT
A	Macaws, Cockatoos, Toucans, Amazons, African Greys, Jardines, Caiques	$600 & up	$35	1 Year
B	Senegals, Meyers, Conures, Lories	$300 - $599	$25	6 Months
C	Quakers, Ringnecks, Parrotlets	$100 - $299	$20	6 Months
D	Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Canaries, Finches, English Budgies	$50 - $99	$10	6 Months
E	Budgies, Society or Zebra Finches, Doves	$1 - $49	$3	1 Month