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becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys:

On a serious work-related note for a moment, I just want to talk about animal shelters and the non-expected animals in them, i.e. not cats and dogs.

We always have a plentiful supply of rabbits and ferrets (some areas have “wild ferret problems” Swansea is one, oddly. I am aware there are those who consider this an incorrect use of the word ‘problem’). We also have birds, frequently, and all sorts of other rodents. This is because, although these animals get donated to us, very few people think of getting rescues among these species.

I’ve done this. You think of rescue centres and you think of cats and dogs. “Budgies” does not occur. Nor “rats”. When people want these animals, they either go to a breeder or they go to a pet shop. They don’t think of rescuing one. I think that needs changing.

But, also, when people sign up to volunteer at shelters, we have a huge overabundance of people wanting to walk dogs or socialise cats, and no one ever wants to volunteer to socialise the rats or the rabbits or the ferrets or the birds (or, indeed, clean them out; but if you volunteer at a shelter you’ll be doing that anyway, wherever you get put for the day.)

Like, right now, we have a parrot. When I first arrived, we had an African Grey. We’ve got two rats. We’ve got a handful of budgies and cockatiels. We’ve got about twelve ferrets.

None of these get the socialisation they need. The sad fact is, shelter workers push themselves to the limit each day just to make sure everything is clean, fed and medicated. There literally isn’t time for the Animal Care Assistants to do all of the socialising that they’d want, and that the animals need. This is a particular problem for the rats and the parrot, because their high intelligence means they’re bored out of their skulls. Which means they become less and less socialised - less and less suited to being pets - and then fewer people would want them anyway, and the vicious cycle continues.

Anyway, I have two points I would like to make out of this:

1. If you’re thinking of buying a new pet, regardless of species - no matter how unusual, even if it’s the Pygmy Shrew or a tortoise or the lesser striped manticore or something - please check local shelters first. It may well be there’s nothing to suit you. As much as I’m advocating you look, I am absolutely not advocating that you definitely get something from a shelter regardless of suitability, because the last thing anyone needs is an animal being brought back again because the owners couldn’t get on with it. But make it the first place you check, that’s all.
   
   
2. If you are someone who has experience with pets who are birds, rodents, reptiles, unicorns, anything that’s not a cat or a dog - please consider volunteering at your local shelter, and offering your services. Talk to a parrot for an hour. Give a budgie some puzzles. Play with some rats for an hour. Throw squeaky dog toys for ferrets for an hour (they love that). Let rabbits climb on you. Whatever.

Thank.