Frequently Asked Questions

To maintain operations as a registered charity, we need to recover our costs, such as:

• Cages: Our small to extra-large parrots are adopted with their cage, which costs hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the cage. By providing a cage, we ensure the bird has an appropriately sized, familiar environment. Some birds are surrendered with a suitable cage; unfortunately, many are not, and we need to purchase one. 
• Vet check and microchip: All birds leave our care with an Avian Veterinary Health Certificate and our small to extra-large parrots also receive a microchip. A vet check with microchip costs a couple hundred dollars per bird. 
• Care: Our birds eat well – a high quality seed and pellet diet, supplemented with fresh chop (fruits and vegetables) daily. We also provide enrichment, cleaning, and pay rent and utilities on a facility to provide a haven for our birds. Some birds have medical issues and require medication, imaging, surgery, and/or follow-up care with our veterinarian. Surrendered birds often spend months or years waiting to be adopted – especially the long-lived, larger species. The cost of care is significant and adds up over time. 

Our goal is to find permanent, dedicated homes for the birds in our care. By placing a realistic value on the birds, we ensure that adopters are committed to long-term ownership. There is the potential that when birds are sold under market value, they are adopted to be resold for a profit. Our adoption fee, in part, is intended to prevent the reselling of birds.

Donations make up most of the funding received with occasional related grants awarded. Please see this page if you wish to donate. 

NO! It is unethical to breed any type of ‘pet’ bird. Parrots and other pet birds deserve their freedom and were not intended to live in our homes. Of course, they can’t survive in our climate if released outside (never do this – it is a death sentence for a pet bird). The reality of the situation is that we have pet birds living with us, and we need to provide the best care and environment possible for them. There are too many birds in shelters, and we will not contribute to the overpopulation of unwanted birds by breeding them. 

We only foster out birds under exceptional circumstances and when we do, we call upon the Greater Edmonton Parrot Society members and our veterinarian. We have a strong working relationship with them.

Depending on the bird, our volunteers’ schedules, and the situation, it could takebetween 24-hours to a few months to complete the process. If you applied for a bird, please be aware this is not a fast process – especially for our larger parrots, as we wish to ensure they are going to the right home and to owners with realistic expectations.

1. Set-up a visit with the bird(s) you are interested in. We encourage multiple visits at Meika’s Safehouse to determine if your preferred bird is the right fit.
2. Fill out an application form.
3. We will perform a background check with the SPCA and Animal Care and Control.
4. Complete a virtual house visit (this could take a while as we are coordinating multiple schedules).
5. Set-up an in-person house visit (if required, at our discretion). 
6. The bird is health-checked by our veterinarian.
7. The potential adopter successfully completes of our Parrot Care 101 course, developed in partnership with Parrot SOS.
8. Coordinate a pick-up date and time.

We respect the experience members of the bird community offer and these individuals often provide fantastic homes for new flock members. Experience isn’t everything, however. We also need to evaluate the home environment, including other pets, human household members, and potential bird hazards (fumes, ceilings fans), among other things. It is our responsibility to make sure we are placing our birds in a suitable home, which is why we include virtual and in-person visits as part of our process.

We respect the experience members of the bird community offer and these individuals often provide fantastic homes for new flock members. Experience isn’t everything, however. We also need to evaluate the home environment, including other pets, human household members, and potential bird hazards (fumes, ceilings fans), among other things. It is our responsibility to make sure we are placing our birds in a suitable home, which is why we include virtual and in-person visits as part of our process.