January is National "Adopt a Bird" Month

By Dr. Edward Schettino

Now’s the time for New Year’s resolutions, new beginnings and excitement for what lies ahead for 2025. Why not ring in the New Year by adding a furry – or feathery – companion to your family?

January is National “Adopt a Rescued Bird” month, and these feathered friends are often overlooked in animal shelters. However these beautiful and colorful creatures make great pets, particularly for families with limited living space or allergies.

In 2024, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) rescued hundreds of birds of varying species – from exotic birds like parakeets, parrots, cockatiels, and cockatoos, to the more common birds like finches, doves and even pigeons.

Birds come in a wide array of colors and sizes, and here are five reasons why you should consider adding a little chirp to your family:

1. Birds are very social. Birds are incredibly intelligent and are extremely communicative and social with humans.
2. Training time! Given their size, training a bird is less demanding physically than working with larger animals. From the “step-up” command, to waving hello and teaching some species to talk, the training possibilities with birds is endless.
3. More space. Food, water and toys are typically self-contained in their cage, giving smaller households plenty of room to move around.
4. A friend for the long-run. Many birds have extraordinarily long life expectancies. This has to be taken into account before adopting, but this can often ease the concern of people who want to make sure they adopt a pet they can love and enjoy for years to come.
5. Cost savings. Most landlords charge a “pet fee” for tenants, but it’s typically for just cats and dogs – not birds. Additionally, when you adopt a bird from ARL, the animal receives a health screening and veterinary exam, vaccinations, parasite treatment, and more!

For many, pet birds are a wonderful complement to the household, adding a splash of cheer.

Thanks to Dr. Edward Schettino and the Animal Rescue League of Boston for contributing this article to Westwood Minute. Dr. Schettino is the President and CEO of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, and has a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.