Birds and turtles can outlive you – Maisonbleuecossonay

Brooklyn parrot shop owner Queron Romain gets more than a dozen requests a month to rehome birds whose elderly owners have fallen ill. Other times, the birds outlive their owners.

Romain’s experience shows why experts say pet birds and turtles should be included in a will more than dogs and cats.

Because animals have a lifespan comparable to that of humans, pets such as parrots and turtles can easily outlive their owners, especially if they are purchased later in a person’s life.

“It happens every day, all the time,” said Romain, 30, who runs Empire Parrots NYC.

There are no figures on exactly how many pets outlive their owners in the U.S., but rescue organizations across the country have dedicated themselves to finding new homes for birds and turtles, indicating a continuing need for temporary care. Volunteer-run groups say they try to teach potential owners how to match a pet’s lifespan to their own, so that the animal doesn’t outlive the human by much longer. Or simply create a plan in case you die, rescue groups told USA TODAY.

On Long Island, Linda McGay, a bird foster care worker, takes in parrots in times of crisis, often after the death of an owner who had no plan of action.

“We handle deaths,” McGay said.

McGay, who is 74, has 10 parrots of her own, several of which are in their 30s and are expected to live another 20 or more years.

“My macaws will outlive me a lot longer,” she said.

McGay says she has a plan in case she eventually dies: “The birds are in the will,” she said. “My daughter will get the house and the birds.”

How long do parrots live?

Romain said he has seen parrots live to be 80 years old and said birds that age likely outlive their owners at some point. Cockatoos and Amazon parrots are among the longest-living pet parrots, and can live to be 60 or more with proper care, according to veterinarians and zoologists.

While more than 60 years is the maximum potential lifespan, many popular large pet birds, such as McGay’s, can live up to 40 or 50 years in captivity, she said. She has four macaws, two cockatoos and one African Grey parrot, as well as an eclectic parrot, a parakeet and a nearly 30-year-old cockatiel named Toby, “as old as the hills,” considering the average lifespan of parrot species is 10 to 15 years, she said.

“They ended up here, but I couldn’t find homes for them,” said McGay, who runs the nonprofit Parrot Rescue NY from her home in Hauppauge.

McGay said she usually fosters a maximum of five birds at a time, usually found after being abandoned or lost. Toby was found on a golf course, and one of her macaws was found near New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. She also helps other bird lovers bequeath their pets in their wills, including setting aside funds for the birds’ daily needs, such as food and veterinary care.

How long do turtles live?

In Baltimore, Katrina Smith helps run the Mid-Atlantic Turtle and Tortoise Society and has 10 turtles of her own — many given to her by a friend before he died.

All of Smith’s tortoises are 20 years old or older, and many live into their 50s or 60s. Some tortoises and box turtles live up to 100 years, Smith said.

“I have a list of people I need to call to make sure the fridge is ready because if I crash in a burning plane, my husband has to call them to come pick up the turtles,” Smith, 53, said.

Smith said her rescue group takes in about five animals each year because their owner died and didn’t have a plan in place.

“A lot of people don’t take the time to do this, and then they get sick and die, which is negligence,” said Romain, of Brooklyn. “It’s sad to say that person died, but it’s still negligence. You had a duty.”

Many more turtles and tortoises — about 100 — come to Smith’s rescue society each year when their owner becomes ill and can no longer care for them, she said. The volunteer-run organization finds new homes for most of them and currently cares for about 30 animals, Smith said.

The group is trying to adopt a 42-year-old red-eared slider named Ferti, who came to MATTS after his owner moved to an assisted living facility.

New owners should take the older animal and come up with a plan

Romain advises that people who are considering getting a parrot for the first time should not buy chicks, as these birds will live for about 50 years.

“People think older birds won’t bond with them, and that’s not true,” he said.

Romain said taking the time to get to know your older bird and avoiding things he doesn’t like — like a loud vacuum cleaner — will help you develop a positive bond with your pet.

“Birds are very intelligent, so you can do something a bird doesn’t like and it will remember that you did it,” Romain said.

As with the birds at McGay’s Rescue on Long Island, there are so many turtles and tortoises in foster homes that need permanent homes, Smith said. Anyone considering getting a turtle should look for one in their area on Petfinder.com rather than buying one from a store, she said.

No matter how old you are or how old your pet is, people should have a plan in case they are no longer able to care for their pet, Smith said.

“Don’t be afraid to get a pet because of your age or the age of the pet because life flows and you never know when it’s going to happen,” Smith said.