*SaveTheBird

I have had a major surgery recently that ended up becoming “the worst case scenario.” I will begin a series of surgeries beginning on September 13th that I will not be fully recovered from until about midway through February, 2025, assuming everything goes smoothly this time. I realized a low-maintenance companion animal would be extremely comforting for me during this time; so today my husband and I went to a PetSmart with high hopes, thinking we would interact with animals and potentially leave with a new family member. I really liked a beta fish until I accidentally turned right into a stack of two clear aquarium-like glass cages stacked on top of each other; about the size of a hamster cage, each structure housed an individual bird alone. My mouth dropped open when I saw what seemed to be an exact replica of my closest childhood pet: a green cheeked conure that had more personality than a dog and was as affectionate as one. These birds are known to be extremely social and need social interactions to fully thrive; they can either bond with another mate or a human, so when I saw the bird alone and looking depressed my heart dropped. I asked the store employee why it was alone and they said it was to ensure that it didn’t bond with another bird. I then asked if it was getting any attention at all and she said they weren’t allowed to interact and play with the bird, because they didn’t want it to bond with a store employee. I then asked how long the bird had been there and she said about five to six months! When I looked at the price I realized why; they priced this poor depressed creature for $750! I asked about a payment plan and they don’t do that and said these were rules from corporate. I left the store crying, and have cried three times since picturing that bird alone when I know from experience how loving they can be. I am already in debt with medical bills but I know I will not be able to rest easy until I save this bird and bring it back to life. As sad as today made me, I now think I was meant to connect with that bird and save it and I just have to. Any help at all would make a world of difference ❤️