Marty’s Rescue Story

We received a call on October 31, 2013, about a scarlet macaw a breeder was wanting to sell. Without hesitation, I canceled all my plans that day and went straight to pick him up.

When we brought him home and started to gently examine him, we discovered he had large fatty masses on his tummy and both legs—clear signs of serious neglect. He had been kept in a tiny cage with no perch to rest on properly. To make matters worse, he only had two toes on each foot, sharp and untrimmed claws that had never been filed down. The constant pressure from standing on hard surfaces caused painful sores on the bottoms of his feet, so we immediately replaced his cage perch with a soft rope perch to ease his discomfort.

We are the architects of our own destiny; our actions create our karma. How can anyone justify keeping a parrot—a highly intelligent, social creature—in a garage or shed, feeding nothing but sunflower seeds, confined to cages so small they can’t even sit up properly? It’s heartbreaking, and frankly, how is this even legal?

Determined to give him the best chance at recovery, we started him on a rigorous care routine: four weeks of aloe detox to support his liver, followed by four weeks of milk thistle to continue detoxification, apple cider vinegar in his water for overall health, and daily wing-flapping exercises to rebuild his strength. We also introduced a diet of fresh, nutritious foods, new toys for mental enrichment, and of course, countless hugs to remind him he was safe and loved.

By November 15, 2013, progress was already visible—someone had lost weight! His swollen tummy was returning to a healthy shape, and though giving him his medicine was a daily wrestling match, it was worth every struggle. Over the next few months, Scarlet lost over a pound, and by early 2014, he began growing back feathers that had been lost to stress and poor health.

Knowing he deserved a loving forever home, we searched carefully for the perfect person—someone who would cherish and care for him just as much as we did. After a thoughtful process, Scarlet was adopted by a wonderful soul who fell in love with him from day one. She continues to keep us updated on his wellbeing and showers him with the love he’s always deserved.

There’s a recent picture of our scarlet macaw, once trapped in a tiny cage, now free and thriving in his new life—a powerful reminder of what compassion and dedication can achieve.

Monika Sangar, MSc – Molecular Biology | Avian Nutrition Specialist | Founder: PDSnonprofit | Owner: Pds Parrot Shop 

Monika Sangar holds a Master of Science in Molecular Biology and is a dedicated Avian Nutrition Specialist with over 14 years of hands-on experience rescuing and rehabilitating parrots. As the founder of PDSnonprofit and Owner of PDS Parrot Shop, she combines scientific knowledge with practical expertise to create enrichment-focused bird toys and species-appropriate diets. Her work emphasizes evidence-based care, behavioral enrichment, and long-term wellness for companion parrots. She is also an author who wrote, The Science of Avian Nutrition: https://a.co/d/f14lNl3

www.pdsnonprofit.org

www.pdsparrotshop.com

PDS is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (tax id #46-2470926)