As I’m sure I’ve mentioned too many times here, I’m chronically ill, and my health will probably not be improving significantly any time soon. My cockatiel and lovebird don’t get enough attention and care from me and I need to rehome them. It’s gotten to the point where I *avoid *interacting with them because I hate myself so much for neglecting them.
So I posted an ad on craigslist (not the first - not many people looking to take in other people’s older birds), and a woman responded who actually wants both! and is home a lot and has birds of both species already that mine can interact with! and lives near by!
The problem is, her law student son advised her not sign the contract I emailed her. It’s basically just to ease my mind. It stipulates that the bird be returned to me if she can’t keep it and she won’t put the bird in a shelter or give it to a friend behind my back. I know that’s even a bit much, but these birds mean a lot to me and I don’t want them to wind up in a bad situation.
So I chopped a lot out of the contract because she sounds like she’ll give them a great home and I decided to trust her more than I was inclined to and made it as innocuous as possible. This is the result:
This bird adoption agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into for mutually acknowledged and valuable consideration, as of the ______ day of ___________, _____ (The “Effective Date”), between [me] and _______________________ (“Primary Caregiver”). [me] and ______________________________ agree to a placement of the bird known as _________________________________, a _______________________ (species) (hereafter referred to as “the bird”) with the Primary Caregiver at their home.
The Primary Caregiver agrees to give the bird a healthy, loving environment and to care for him or her with common sense, respect, and decency. He/she is to be treated as a member of the family.
Primary Caregiver shall allow [me] to perform a home inspection prior to placing the bird in the care of Primary Caregiver and to visit the bird in Primary Caregiver’s home once it has been placed in Primary Caregiver’s care no less than once.
Primary Caregiver promises that the bird shall not be sold, adopted, given away, or otherwise rehomed or sent to live with another party other than [me]. If for any reason the Primary Caregiver is unable to keep the bird, the bird shall be returned to [me].
The Primary Caregiver understands that birds require security and companionship, a nutritious diet, a healthy environment (safe, good ventilation, medical care), stimulation (toys & interaction), and a decent cage in which to live. All these things can be expensive and the Primary Caregiver is aware and capable of providing the proper resources. Primary caregiver agrees to be responsible for all veterinary care and states that providing such care is not a financial hardship. Primary caregiver agrees to take the bird for treatment by a qualified avian vet as needed at the first insurgence of health problems.
Signatures and such. (A woman at a bird shelter in my state was kind enough to send me the contract they have people sign, and I basically just shortened it.)
Yet again, however, her son advises her to sign, paraphrase, a simple statement that if she can’t keep the bird she’ll return it to me and nothing more. Then she says that that would never be necessary, as she would never give up any of her birds.
The thing is, she says she agrees with all the sentiments and requirements in the contract, so should I be concerned that she won’t sign it? (Talk is cheap, and so on.) I doubt my ability to judge people and have only the one meeting with her and a few short emails to determine what kind of person she is before giving my birds to her. I can’t afford to screw it up, for their sake. I hate to back out though, because who knows if anyone else willing to take them in is going to come along?
What do you think?
And I understand that I value my birds more than maybe a lot of people would, and there are those of you who wouldn’t sign that contract if your life depended on it, it’s so outrageous. You’re entitled to your opinion, but I have to do what puts my mind at ease, and your comments would not be helpful, so if you could refrain, it’d be appreciated.
Thanks.