June 7,2007

Dear Bird Lovers,

I love birds too. I have worked tirelessly for 30 years trying to help birds. Now I am having problems in my personal life. After 29 years of marriage my husband is moving on. He does not want anything but his half of all assets, which is what he is entitled to under Florida divorce law. So after building our collection for the last 15 years I am left with no choice but to sell our birds to pay him.

I can assure you all that this was NOT an easy decision, nor do I take it lightly. I do love my birds very much. But I CANNOT AFFORD to keep them. Also be assured that breeders who purchase good healthy birds will do everything they can to ensure their health, safety and happiness. If my motives were purely financial, consider this: all people involved in animal husbandry know that if you don't take care of your animals, they will not provide for you.

In our modern society we are typically 2 generations removed from the farm and living with animals in a symbiotic relationship. Most modern Americans, therefore have a much different view of their relationship with animals, including birds, than our predecessors. That is neither good nor bad-it simply is fact.

We must not forget that if there were no bird breeders you would not have your FIDS and your BAPPIES. You would not know the joy that birds can bring into your life. I see it every day in my practice. I enjoy the incredible joy that birds bring into peoples lives. Sure some have to change homes- but our children change homes also. That doesn’t mean we don’t love them. They just grow up and move away and start a new generation of wonderful people for us to love.

Another consideration is safe management of my flock during hurricanes. We were hit by 3 hurricanes (Francis, Jeanne in 2004 and Wilma in 2005) in 14 months. With a complete team, it takes us about 3 days to bring all the birds inside the clinic. During this time, I am forced to close my clinic for unspecified period of time to ensure the safety of my flock.

This is also extremely challenging when we have no power or other services for weeks. In turn, I am unavailable to assist the rest of the bird community in possible medical emergencies of their own. I am a board certified veterinarian, who would much better serve the bird community as such, than to give up a 30-year career to manage a breeding aviary. I am keeping some of my birds, but a small number that I can easily manage alone when there is a hurricane.

And some of you have mentioned PDD. Please be VERY AWARE that the PDD rescue birds I have been working with are in a totally different facility. I have never had a case of PDD in my collection and I look for it. I have worked with Mary Jo Meyer of Milo’s Ranch for 5 years. We are about to have a major break thru.

Have any of you donated money for that important research and the support of those birds so we could treat them and save their lives? I think not.

So I am asking all of you – PLEASE DON’T KICK ME WHEN IM DOWN. Can’t you rejoice in my life’s work. And if I make it through this challenge, I will soon be sharing some major advances in bird health. I need your support – not your hate.

So, since you are so vocal in your disdain for me and my current situation, put up your money. Buy my birds. Rescue them, PLEASE. Give them a good home. That would make me very happy and enable me to move ahead in this critical time of my life.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Clubb, DVM, Dip ABVP, avian vet
I’m keeping my name, my dignity, and my dedication to the avian world. - I won’t go away
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Kinda sad. I feel very bad for her. I bet it is not easy. Bad enough your life is falling apart and now you are forced to give up everything because of a greedy spouse.

What we all need to do is to ask reputable breeders to bid on thewe fids. Anyone in Florida, breeder or not can at least be on line for the auction and if affordable...adopt one of them. If people with little or no knowledge of birds end up adopting...who knows what will happen to them.
She is right...by Florida law...they have to split all assets. A judge can and, will order them to sell everything if a couple can not decide who gets what or, in this case...one party alone can not care for the property weather it be a house or birds.
I have almost pleaded with Joel to attend and purchase some of these breeders. I even offered to take him to the auction...I understand how he can't leave the compound for that length of time.

If any of you can...please at least bid on line. The cost of shipping is only about $100. Even if you can't keep the bird , you can buy one and find a good home for it with someone you know will care for it properly.
I really can't afford it right now but , I am sure going to attend the online auction and, bid on at least one bird.

I dont know her, or about her, but I dont like it. I kind of feel like that letter was an attempt to save her name and thats about it. I'm sure it was mandated and its probably hard for her, but theres something that bothers me. I think its the way she refered to her flock as a collection. That just has such a negative sound to me. Birds are not action figures. You collect action figures, or coins, not birds, or any animal. I dont know what to think, but I dont like it.

One can not judge someone they don't know.

Oh, I dont judge her either way... In fact I'm sure she feels bad and I'm sorry she has to go through this. Theres just something about the wording in the letter that bugged me and The whole idea of auctioning off birds seems weird to me. I mean if I had the money (or knew where I'll be living in a month), I'd give some a good home... I didnt mean to seem judgemental...

I just received an email from one of our breeders. She is very small and is a vet tech- absolutely loves her birds and they are magnificent. She and her husband are splitting. The JUDGE ordered that she must sell her breeding pairs of Greys and Hahns Macaws. Can you imagine????

It is sad when things go that far. The breeding pairs should have not been worth the argument.............

I agree. She is so upset. If you knew her, your heart would really go out to her. She loves her birds so much. Her babies are magnificent - probably some of the most well socialized babies I have seen.