Exotic Birds Left in Foreclosed Homes

The latest victims of foreclosure: exotic birds.

We already know that foreclosures hurt pets, in addition to homeowners, but it seems like exotic birds are suffering more than most. According to a recent story reported by Reuters, there is an epidemic of noisy and high maintenance exotic birds being left behind in foreclosed homes. Jeffrey Dolfinger, a real estate professional and blogger in Poughkeepsie, New York was making a routine occupancy check on a foreclosed home when he encountered some surprise squatters — two cockatiels that nearly starved to death.

Here’s the graphic scene in Jeff’s words:

“We had entered into this wreck of a house, opened the door, where there sat two cockatiels with about a six-inch-high pile of bird feces under them,” Dolfinger said. “I’m not a bird person, but I knew a bird was not supposed to look that way.”

Thanks to the swift action of Jeffrey and a Good Samaritan at a local pet store, the cockatiels survived. Sadly, not all exotic birds are so lucky. Many animal shelters only accept cats and dogs, not birds, leaving the intelligent and lively creatures homeless. In Bellingham, Washington, is “Mollywood,” a specialty shelter that accommodates exotic birds. It is now housing 400 homeless birds. Staff members report that record numbers of birds have arrived at the shelter in the past 6 months.

In closing, if you are at risk of foreclosure and have pets, here is an excellent FAQ by the American Veterinary Medical Association about pets and foreclosed homes. If you know of a home in your neighborhood that might be abandoned due to foreclosure, ask a real estate professional if they can help to make sure no animals are left behind.

Once again, if you’ve seen something weird, it’s probably due to foreclosure.