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Parrot Harnesses - the very mention of them makes me cringe. Unfortunately most people who purchase them, are doing so for their benefit - not their bird's. Why should you want to take your parrot to the supermarket, park, diy store etc? If you want to take your pet parrot in the garden, wheel its cage outside - much safer option.

Parrots in supermarkets in the UK are not allowed for health reasons, and quite rightly so. Parrots in parks - well this could be debated for a long while. Yes you bird will get access to fresh air but it may also get many other things along the way. Such as a disease (picked up from wild birds). A cold (from the different temperature outside to what it is used to indoors). Injured (from being caught up in the leash). Attacked (by dogs, cats or wild birds). Stolen.

Also how undignified for your parrot. Parrots are highly, intelligent, sensitive creatures. They are exotic. They are not domesticated and never meant to be in our living rooms, never mind wearing a stupid harness.

Please think again before purchasing a bird harness (or flight suite or diaper), and assess whose benefit is it really for....

We received the following article about harnesses, flight suits and diapers from a pet owner.....

WOW!!! I am SO GLAD I FOUND YOUR SITE….I have been looking for two days straight for any objections to bird harnesses here in the US.

I just learned about these contraptions the other day on a forum site for Quakers. I was sent a link to this Avian 'fashion' site, which is number one in this nation for selling harnesses, flight suits (wonder when they'll begin the parachutes), diapers and 'costumes' for parrots.

Needless to say I became Unglued, literally. I am pretty open minded and I look at every angle but when I saw this beautiful Amazon in an Uncle Sam costume 'flight suit' that was it. I contacted PETA, contacted several 'bird rescues--some major ones in fact and only One agreed with me…and well, was sort of kicked off the forum for voicing my objections.

Your site is the first I have seen to even object to the harnesses. My concern after seeing the video demo where they show the diapers, the flight suit, and the 'leash' being strapped on to this Cockatoo that was trying very hard to turn around and bite the woman dressing it….was that if the Cockatoo took off in flight (you know how dogs will yank while on leash) that she could fall and dangle in the air.

Now after having said all that….I have to say the diapers for one really irked me….it concerns me as to what these people do to these poor birds in their homes if the 'poop' bothers them that much? I mean its little tiny poop for crying out loud…not globs like cat or dog? I don't see diapers being put on cats…and kitty litter boxes are far more smelly, toxic than bird poop. (I know, I have a cat and a border collie).

Then they have these insane costume suits…I could see maybe, Maybe putting on a suit type thing if a bird was really plucking its feathers (in treatment) maybe to help him/her heal or to stop but that’s it.

However, nothing has been said or printing or even Researched here in the US on this topic. We have everything else in print from objections to Kentucky Fried Chicken, to adds where birds are used to sell products, etc…but Nothing on these costumes or diapers or leashes, etc.

One man from a rescue said these diapers are bad because the poop is left on their vents (just like a baby and diapers) and that dermatitis can result. Why aren't the avian vets saying anything?

What about strangulation from these harnesses, and leashes? They have cat leash laws in some counties here….put one on my cat one day because the animal control said it was law…he almost choked himself to death trying to get out of that thing and from that day on I said…fine put me in jail. I REFUSE to put that thing on my cat. I'll pick up the poop myself, and stay outside with him if I have too and that’s what I do.

But the reason I am writing you is this…what disturbs me the most is that for one…many of these birds are smuggled from nations that have little respect for human rights much less animal rights…the rain forests where many reside are being destroyed at a dangerous rate, and so forth….all for the 'bird industry' in the US and elsewhere…then to see a parrot dressed in a 'Uncle Sam suit'! What sort of message does that bring?

Again, thank you so much for posting this on your site.....I am sooo glad I found your site. You are an inspiration. And my birds thank you too.

Sincerely,

T Haselton
Colorado USA

14 May 2003