ok i need help.?

Question

I have been babysitting my cousins birds, for almost 2 years, and have no word from her for almost the whole time.
I have paid for all of their care, and food, etc.
That said.......
I just moved, and have no room for them inside, NONE, I tried, so I have a covered deck outside, and I have a spot up high for them to be. they have been safe and very well cared for.

Well this morning we found the cage smashed open, and the birds dead on he lawn.
I am so sad, Ireally loved the little sweethearts.

Well my cousin called me 3 weeks ago and said she wanted to come get them in the end of August.

I don't know what to tell her. I mean I will tell her the truth, but Idon't know how to tell her.
Should I replace them? Even if I have paid for their care for so long? Really they were more mine than hers.
HELP!!!! What should i do? I feel SOOOO Bad.

I just want to add, I have talked to her mother, and asked if someone else in the family could take them, or if she knew if her daughter could possibly take them back. She told me no.

And thanks for all your kind words i really appreciate it, I was really attached to them.

Answer 1

Ok here is the thing, if you were caring for them for 2 years without hearing one word from your cousin then those bird would be concered abandoned.
I had a lady ask me to Babysit her 6 Parakeets, she said it would only be for a few weeks, since I run an Aviary I told her how much I would charge to care for the birds, I cut her a deal since there was 6 birds. Weeks passed, then months, I never heard anything from the lady, nor did she ever send me any money. At our Avairy if a bird is dropped off here and we do not hear anything back from the owners after 6 months then the birds are concidered abandoned. The lady who had dropped off the Parakeet cantacted me 2 years later and wanted the birds back. Not only did she owe us 2 years of birding sitting her bill was more then the price of 6 Parakeets. 3 of the parakeets had died, which I did replace. They had also bred and had babies which I sold to help pay for the cost of caring for the birds. And since the lady refused to pay us for the 2 years I refused to give her back her birds. If she had cared enough about them she should have touched bases with us and we would have worked with her.

No do not replace them, if she had care abot them she would have contacted you. Not everyone is set up to take in and house birds. Just tell her what happened. And maybe she will learn a lesson that if you are going to be a pet owner you take responsiabilty in making sure their needs are met even if she asked someone to care for them.

She abandoned the birds and you were stuck with them. I know how you feel since I have been there, but don't let it eat at you. If you need any other help please feel free to contact me.

Sapphyre
Certified Avian Specialist
http://www.borrowed-rainbow.com
join our group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BorrowedRainbowAviary/

Answer 2

Figures, doesn't it? It always happens that way. If the birds lived to be 100 you never would have heard from her again. They are killed in a random act of violence and she calls. It just figures.
Why did you let it go on so long?
You should have said something to her about your ownership before now.
At this point, she has grounds to sue you for the value of the birds.
I would tell her that they died and that you are sorry, there was nothing you could do. Don't mention that you consider them your birds. See what she says. If she throws a fit, mention that you haven't heard from her in 2 years and thought they were yours. Thought she didn't want them anymore.

Answer 3

It might be best to tell her the truth. Explain what happened, but maybe hold back on replacing the birds for her. You have cared for these animals for quite a while now, and her interest in them has obviously diminished.
Just have a talk with her, figure out what you can agree upon.

Answer 4

I think the best way to tell her is in person. That may involve you going to see her, or seeing her as soon as she gets back. Have you called the police? Whoever did this NEEDS to be prosecuted.
Tell her gently, and perhaps offer to replace the birds. It's likely that she will not take you up on it; if she does, it might cost you something, but it will be worth it to make the gesture. I would tell her exactly how sorry you are. Don't be afraid to cry in front of her, either - I know I would.
Good luck, hon.

Answer 5

I think you can only tell the truth. What can the owner say? apparently they didn't care much about them.

I feel so sad for you. I lost my beloved cocateil to a stomach problem. He was so sweet and liked to cuddle under my chin. Thats where he stayed the night he died. I put him in his cage but he kept walking back to me and wanted to stay under my chin. The next morning he was dead. He knew....I didn't. I felt bad because I couldn't be with him when he really needed me. I hope he is doing well where ever he is.

Answer 6

tell her they are no longer her birds to keep...b/c for her to have left them in your care for 2 YEARS is really a ridiculous request for her to ask. she can't expect to leave for 2 years and come back and have the birds in exactly the same condition they were before.

tell her this, tell her you're very sorry but there's nothing you can do. i wouldn't offer to replace the birds b/c you paid for her birds' care for so long, the money evens out (or maybe she even owes you a little more, since you cared for those birds for so long).

Answer 7

IMO she put you in a very difficult situation. You have done her a great service by taking care of the birds for so long.

Making an issue of it is not worth losing your relationship with your cousin.

Tell her what happened and apologize. Let her take it from there.

Answer 8

Tell her the truth. Honestly, she doesn't seem to care for them much if she dropped them off with you for 2 years with little contact and NO help with the financial end of it. (Would you expect to babysit someone's child and you have to buy them food, clothes, pay rent, etc? Not logical)

What happened to them is not your fault. Tell her what happened, but do NOT let her guilt you into anything. You went above and beyond in caring for animals she obviously did not want.

Answer 9

sweetie as much as that really sucks, it's not your fault at all. there's nothing you could have done differently, and when you tell your cousin i think she'll understand. you can offer to buy her new ones, but i wouldn't try to replace them without telling her. chances are she'll be able to tell they aren't her original birds. if i were your cousin i wouldn't let you replace them for me given that you've taken care of them for so long, but you never know what she might be thinking, i'm sure she'd at least appreciate the offer

Answer 10

They have been disrespecting you the entire time for not being responsible enough to come back and get them from you. You need to take the whole cage and set it on her front steps and knock on the door and walk away. It's that easy.