Adoption - Frequently-Asked Questions

Table of Contents

FAQ – Pre-adoption / Adoption Requirements

1) Do you have any age restrictions for adopters?

Adopters will have to be 18 years old or older to adopt from PSS.

2) I am new to bird keeping. How can I prepare myself to welcome a new bird into my home?

Read extensively on what bird keeping entails, join PSS events and community chats to learn about bird keeping, and refer to our Resources to get started on the basics! Additionally, PSS will guide new bird owners to ensure adopters are prepared and comfortable when welcoming a new bird into their home.

3) I know a home breeder who is selling birds at cheaper rates than your adoption fees. Why should I adopt from PSS instead of getting it from the breeder?

We caution buyers on supporting home breeders unless you know that they are licensed, practice ethical breeding methods and conduct proper husbandry of their birds. Meanwhile, there are many unwanted and neglected birds out there that need good homes. Adopting from PSS means helping a bird in need, avoiding unethical/unnecessary breeding, and also supporting PSS’ efforts in parrot welfare.

Do note also that unlicensed breeding and selling is illegal in Singapore. While there may be ethical unlicensed home breeders, we hope to discourage the practice of breeding as it can lead to many unwanted parrots.

4) I want to adopt only male birds/only female birds. Can I do that?

Most of our birds are not sexed, and many parrot species are not sexually dimorphic, making it difficult for us to determine the bird’s sex. We regret to inform that we are unable to cater to such a request.

5) I have a single parrot and want to look for a partner for it. Can I adopt a bird from you and house them together?

Contrary to popular belief, some parrots thrive very well as a single bird if the owner provides enough socialisation and mental stimulation to it. Not all birds need a partner and there is a risk of the birds not getting along. If you intend to adopt a new bird, please be prepared to house them separately. We also make it a requirement that adopters get a separate cage for their adopted bird for quarantining in the initial months post-adoption, and gradually introduce the birds to each other later on.

6) Do you provide any information on the pet’s history or background?

We make efforts to understand the background of the bird from previous owners or fosterers, but we cannot guarantee having a full picture of its previous living conditions. We are happy to share what we know about the bird with you if you are a shortlisted adopter of the bird, so please feel free to ask!

7) Can I meet multiple birds before making a decision on which one I want to adopt?

Our birds are under fostering with various foster homes around Singapore. Due to current limitations in manpower, and to reduce inconveniences fosterers, we only allow shortlisted adopters to meet the bird(s) they are interested in before finalising the adoption process. Alternatively, you may keep an eye out for pet events where we may sometimes bring our foster birds to, to meet with them!

8) Are there specific requirements for adopting certain species?

Different parrot species have different needs in terms of diet, housing, and socialisation. Even within the same species, different feathered individuals may have different preferences and personalities. We encourage all interested adopters to read up thoroughly on the species they are interested in to understand their needs before adopting.

9) I love birds but I work long hours/travel a lot, can I still adopt?

If you adopt a bird from us, you are the designated caretaker of the bird, and will be responsible for ensuring the bird has access to proper food and water, a hygienic and suitable living environment, and sufficient mental stimulation to thrive. These are basic requirements for all pet owners, regardless of the type of animal. We encourage you to assess your own lifestyle and personal situation thoroughly before deciding whether you should adopt a bird or not.

10) I would really like to adopt but my family member does not agree. Can you help me convince them? Should I go ahead anyway?

Adopting a bird is like adding a new family member to your household. We strongly encourage that the people living together with you and the bird are in acceptance of adding this new family member, to reduce the chances of future disputes and unfortunate rehoming of the bird due to disagreements. This may involve you educating your family members about what to expect with a pet bird and what its requirements are. You may also encourage them to attend pet events that PSS participates in, to have a friendly chat with our volunteers to understand more about bird ownership!

11) Can I adopt if I have young children or other pets at home?

Yes, you may still apply to adopt, but please take note of the following:

Please carefully supervise interactions between young children and the adopted bird to ensure safety and positive experiences for both the children and the parrot.

For predatory mammalian pets (E.g. dogs & cats etc.), avoid letting your bird interact with them as predatory instincts may lead to unwanted accidents. Whilst you may be assume your mammalian pet is not violent, it is still an unnecessary risk to take. At the same time, mammalian saliva is toxic to birds and ingestion by the bird can lead to sickness and even death.

For non-predatory mammalian pets (E.g. rabbits, hamsters & guinea gigs etc.), while they may not have predatory natures, they can still get defensive when startled, which can lead to accidents and injuries to the bird. Similarly, their saliva is also toxic to birds, so it is best to avoid interactions between the two species.

Aquatic enclosures (E.g. fish tanks, terrapin tanks, ponds, etc.), pose a potential threat to birds as they may accidentally drown in the water. At the same time, the water may contain chemicals or particles that are harmful to the bird. Such enclosures should be covered to prevent access by the bird.

If you have other birds, be cautious of letting birds of starkly different sizes mix as this can lead to potential fights over territories and severe injuries. Do note that PSS requires adopters to have a separate cage for adopted parrots when they are first adopted, so as to avoid stress or risk of unfamiliarity.

12) Can I foster a bird before committing to adoption?

You may sign up as a fosterer at https://parrotsocietysg.org/rescue-foster/. Please note that all fosterers will have to go through a stringent evaluation before being accepted as a fosterer. Regarding adoption of the specified bird, PSS reserves the right to assess all interested applicants and decide on the best fit for the bird.

FAQ – Adoption Process

13) How does the adoption process work?

For a more detailed explanation on the adoption process, please refer to https://www.parrotsocietysg.org/adopt.

14) How long does the adoption process usually take?

Depending on many factors, it can take up to 2 months before the bird is officially adopted.

15) I have sent in my adoption interest application, but I did not hear back from PSS.

Due to high amounts of applications received, we regret that only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

16) The species I want is not in your list of available birds for adoption. Can I reserve priority the next time such a species is available?

We regret to inform that we will not be able to cater to such a request. Please regularly check our website or Instagram updates to see which birds/species are available for adoption.

17) If I am the first to submit my adoption interest form for a bird I am interested in, do I get priority to adopt the bird?

The sequence of submission of the adoption interest form is NOT the main consideration for PSS in evaluating a potential adopter.

18) I am fostering a bird for PSS at the moment and would like to adopt it. Do I get priority?

Foster parents often receive priority when it comes to adopting the animal they are fostering. However, to ensure fairness and optimal conditions for the birds, fosterers will have to undergo the same adoption assessment process and be assessed under the same criteria as other adoption candidates.

19) Why do you still need to do a house visit after we have sent you pictures of our home setup in our application form?

Photos are a first stage of screening for us, but we need to assess the potential living conditions of the bird and interview the adopter and family to gain a more holistic understanding of the potential adopter.

20) My family member is not comfortable with strangers visiting our house. Can we skip the house visit?

As mentioned in the previous question, house visit is mandatory to assess the real conditions of the house.

21) Do I need to pay an adoption fee? How much is it and why do you charge a fee?

Adoption fees are applied to cover operational costs involved in handling fosters under PSS. Adoption fees are not fixed and vary according to species. To encourage adoption, PSS adoption fees are typically set lower than market rates.

22) Can I adopt a pet as a gift for someone else?

Pets are a long-term commitment and should not be treated as gifts, especially if it is not clear whether the recipient has the ability/desire to take care of them or not. As such, we require that the adopter be the primary caretaker of the bird for accountability purposes.

FAQ – Post-adoption

23) Someone claims that the bird I have adopted from PSS is their pet. What should I do?

In order to avoid fraudulent claims from moving forward, please contact PSS should an individual make such a claim about your adopted pet.

24) Do you offer any post-adoption support or resources?

For enquiries and updates regarding your adopted parrot from PSS, please get in touch with the PSS volunteer in charge of your adoption case. Stay tuned for our adopters’ community that we will launch in the near future.

25) The bird I adopted from you is exhibiting a different personality than what you have described in your adoption post. Why?

Interpretation of bird personality can be subjective. The description we provide is based on input from our fosterers. Some birds may behave differently in different home environments due to different stimuli, etc. We encourage all adopters to interact with their adopted birds without any prejudice or prior expectations to ensure a fulfilling relationship.

26) My adopted bird is not working out in my family. I would like to return it.

By signing the adoption contract, you have committed to caring for the bird. We recommend that adopters learn about bonding techniques and work towards a solution to integrate the bird into their family dynamics. If, despite your best efforts, the situation does not improve, please contact PSS for further assistance. Please note that as part of the adoption contract, you must not rehome a bird adopted from PSS without our prior approval.

27) I am unable to take care of my adopted bird anymore, what should I do?

By signing the adoption agreement with PSS, you commit to being the primary caretaker of the bird for its entire lifespan and are not allowed to change ownership of the bird without approval from PSS. If you are unable to take care of your adopted bird anymore, please reach out to PSS for a discussion on next steps.

28) Can I microchip my adopted bird?

There is a size limitation for microchipping, and only large birds can be microchipped. If you are adopting a large bird from PSS, we will let you know if it is already microchipped (by a previous owner), and if it is not, you have the option of microchipping it. Some of our birds may be banded on the leg for identification. We do not microchip our birds.

29) Can I remove the leg band of my adopted bird?

The leg band is placed on the bird to facilitate identification in case the bird gets lost. We ask that owners do not remove the leg band of our birds unless there is an injury or swelling which requires band removal. We also urge owners to check your birds’ leg band regularly to ensure it is kept clean and free of debris, that the bird has not clamped down on it resulting in constriction, and that there is no swelling of the leg near the band.

Still have unanswered questions? Drop us an enquiry below!