Rocky Mountain Society of Aviculture Adopt-a-Bird Program Guidelines     Adopt-a-Bird (AAB) Program Guidelines   Goal ~ to find the best possible home for the bird(s) in terms of promoting health, well-being and longevity. Adoption Process  Each bird entering the program must have a surrender form completed and signed by the owner. The bird is placed in foster care by the AAB committee.  When the AAB committee determines that the bird is in good health, the bird is listed as ready for adoption at the next general meeting An adoption request application will be filled out by qualified members who have met their RMSA adoption requirements and wish to adopt a bird in the program.  The application and non-refundable application fee will be submitted for review to the AAB committee. Application fees are set forth in Exhibit “A” All adoption applications presented to the AAB committee during the general meeting will be reviewed and either approved or denied. In the event more than one application is approved for a particular bird, the selections will be determined by a drawing. During the AAB portion of a general meeting and  in front of the membership, all qualified applications for a particular bird will be placed into a container and a non partisan member shall select one application from the container.  This application will then be announced to the membership. The selected applicant shall then pay all remaining fees and assume all responsibility of the adopted bird. ·            ·         Adopt A Bird Chairman    ·           Shall be elected to a two-year term at the annual RMSA elections at the December general meeting. As stated in the RMSA bylaws, AAB chairman is a voting member of the board.   ·         Shall nominate a committee to be approved by the general membership at the January general meeting each year.  Shall appoint and be responsible for at least 3 but not more than 6 members to be on the AAB committee.  These members shall be approved by the general membership at the January general meeting.  Shall be responsible for the committee in verifying eligibility of the members who want to adopt. Questionnaires and applications shall be kept at the RMSA main location. Shall be responsible for supervising the AAB committee in placing birds into the most qualified foster home and performing any home inspections of foster and adoption members and ensure that all homes are in compliance with PACFA requirements.   Shall be responsible that all records be kept accurately and up to date.  All records shall be kept at the RMSA location unless designated otherwise by the RMSA board Shall be responsible for informing the RMSA board and general membership of all birds entering the program. Shall ensure that the AAB Program conforms to all federal, state and local regulations governing the functioning of shelter/adoption facilities, including the maintenance and archiving of all forms, records, inspections and licenses as required by law. Adopt A Bird Committee   Committee members shall be required to attend all general meetings. Any committee member unable to serve the length of their term shall be replaced with an eligible club member by a majority membership vote. AAB committee members shall review adoption applications for each bird in the program and approve or deny each application.  AAB committee members shall consider the following criteria when selecting a home for each bird. 1.    What is in the best interest of the bird? 2.    Is the applicant experienced with this species? 3.    Will the member provide a long lasting home? 4.    Has this applicant provided successful adoptions in the past? Applications for adoption may be denied due to any adverse treatment of previously acquired bird(s), failure to comply with Adopt-a-Bird guidelines, or other reasons deemed feasible or necessary by the AAB committee. Committee members shall keep all applications confidential and present them after each meeting to the President for board review. Grievances shall be made in writing and submitted to the RMSA president.  All board members shall be contacted prior to any action taken.   Fostering Fosters shall be approved and appointed by the AAB committee. Fosters shall have current membership for at least six months prior to fostering and attend all general meetings. Fosters shall make reasonable attempts to allow prospective adopters to visit foster birds in their care. Fosters should have experience with the type of bird being fostered and must have adequate space and time to attend to the bird. Fosters are responsible for transporting the bird for medical treatment or grooming as required and to the general meeting for adoption. Fosters must agree to unscheduled home inspections by the AAB committee.   Foster Adoption Option (FAO) ·         Fosters have the option to adopt the bird being fostered by using the Foster Adoption Option (FAO) once during a twelve-month period, and shall pay all adoption fees for that bird.  There shall be twelve months between one FAO and the next, per membership. This applies to all levels of memberships. ·         To be eligible for this option, the foster must have previously fostered at least two times.   If the adoption is for two birds that must be adopted together, the foster shall pay all required fees. ·    All AAB guidelines shall apply in approving the adoption and the adoption will be announced at the general meeting.         Adoption Guidelines and Procedures Birds to be placed for adoption shall be available at the first general meeting following acceptance into the program unless the AAB committee  determines the bird is not ready.. When it is considered by the AAB committee or the RMSA board to not be in the best interest of the bird, photograph(s) may be presented at the general meeting in lieu of having the actual bird in attendance. Applications for adoption may be accepted at any time after the start of the general meeting.  The applicant, or proxy by writing, must be at the meeting to pay the fees and accept the adoption. An Adoption Questionnaire must be completed and approved by the Adopt-a-Bird committee prior to applying to adopt through the program. Any incomplete application that has missing information (including failure to enclose fee), illegible or ineligible will be disqualified.   A junior member may submit an application for adoption with written permission from a parent or legal guardian.  Applications shall be completed for one bird or pair of birds.  Additional applications must be completed for additional birds.  ·           Birds adopted through the program must remain with the new adopting member for a period of not less than one year. No bird can be sold, given away, traded, re-homed or placed on breeder loan or in any way transferred to another party for a period of one year from the date of adoption. Any bird may be returned for re-adoption at any time. RMSA retains ownership for the one year period. The applicant must provide adequate housing, ample opportunity for exercise and play, and a diet consistent with the species being adopted. Applicants accepting an adoption will make arrangements to receive the bird(s), quarantine accordingly, and relay any major problems back to the AAB committee for assessment. In the case of extremely rare and endangered birds, every effort to repopulate the species must be attempted. If no member of RMSA or other Colorado avian club has a potential and acceptable mate for these bird(s), the committee must then go on a national level to find potential partners and place them in the best possible breeding situation. These bird(s) will be fostered by qualified Adopt-a-Bird committee members, board members or designees until placement. Birds in all categories will be available to applicants with a required general meeting attendance.  A new member will receive a punch card with six punch blocks and shall have the card signed by a board or AAB committee member at the conclusion of each general meeting attended.  Two to six punches, as listed in Exhibit ‘A’, are required to adopt a bird in the program.  If a member reaches their length of membership requirement, the general meeting attendance punch cards would not be required. If a bird is not adopted after 2 months, it may be made available to members of other Colorado avian clubs, rescues, and the general public at the discretion of the AAB committee. Fees for these adoptions will be set forth in “Exhibit B” the base fee plus $25 for a 1 year membership to the club.    If a bird is not adopted after 2 months and is available to the general public, at the discretion of the AAB committee, that bird shall also be able to be adopted by a member who has not completed their adoption time or meeting requirements.  Fees for these adoptions will be set forth in “Exhibit B”, excluding the additional new membership fee. Upon a completed adoption, the applicant becomes responsible for the bird(s) and shall either take the bird home or make arrangements with the foster to receive the bird as soon as possible.   All adoptions shall be entered into an AAB database within 5 days of each general meeting and the master database shall be stored at the RMSA designated office.   ·         Fostering, adoptions and fees will be made on an individual basis for hard-to-place, extended vet-care, or otherwise handicapped birds.    ·         Adoption monies shall be managed by the RMSA treasurer.  Each January the monies collected during the previous calendar year shall be divided as follows: 50% to avian research or conservation and 50% to the RMSA general account with funds being made available to the AAB program as needs arise. All psittacine transfers will be made in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations.   RMSA and its agents accept no liability for death and/or disease of adopted bird(s) whether contagious or non-contagious. RMSA and its agents will not be held responsible for any damage to property or the health or safety of any persons, or the health or safety of any birds or other animals currently residing at an adoptive home due to the introduction of bird(s) from the RMSA Adopt-a-Bird program. It is expected that the adoptive persons(s) will seek immediate veterinary care should the need arise. It is suggested that adopted birds receive a well-bird check by an avian veterinarian as soon as possible after adoption, and that quarantine procedures are followed. Veterinary expenses shall be the total responsibility of the adoptive persons(s) unless otherwise agreed to by the Adopt-a-Bird Committee and/or the RMSA board.   Non Member Adoptions If a bird is not adopted after 2 months, they may be made available to non-members at the discretion of the AAB committee and the RMSA board. All adoptions will follow the same criteria for eligibility as set forth for member adoptions. Bird(s) adopted through the program must remain with the new adopting member or returned to the AAB program for a minimum period of not less than one year. RMSA retains ownership for the one year period. The fees for non member adoptions shall also have a one year membership added to the adoption payment. The fee for a non member adoption is set forth as listed in “Exhibit B”.  These fees may be adjusted at the discretion of the AAB committee and the RMSA board. An Adoption Questionnaire must be completed and approved by the AAB committee and RMSA board before any non member adoptions take place.       Revised 11-14-2008   Application Fees ·         Fees will be set by the AAB committee and the RMSA board.  Exhibit A fees will apply unless adjusted by the AAB committee and the board. ·         Birds with special needs may have fees adjusted as deemed appropriate by AAB committee and the board.  ·         Adoption requirements may be met by either achieving the membership time requirement or the general meeting’s attendance requirements.     Exhibit A Adoption Fee’s & Requirements Category A Species Base Fee   Membership Requirements   Attendance Requirements   “ Toucans $35   1 yr     or   6 Gen. Meetings   “ Macaws $35   1 yr     or   6 Gen. Meetings   “ Cockatoos $35   1 yr     or   6 Gen. Meetings   “ African Greys $35   1 yr     or   6 Gen. Meetings   “           6 Gen. Meetings   “           6 Gen. Meetings   Category B               “ Amazons $25   9 months     or   5 Gen. Meetings   “ Senegals $25   9 months     or   5 Gen. Meetings   “ Jardines $25   9 months     or   5 Gen. Meetings   “ Caiques $25   9 months     or   5 Gen. Meetings   “ Meyers $25   9 months     or   5 Gen. Meetings   “ Conures $25   9 months     or   5 Gen. Meetings   “ Lories $25   9 months     or   5 Gen. Meetings   Category C               “ Quakers $20   6 months     or   3 Gen. Meetings   “ Ringnecks $20   6 months     or   3 Gen. Meetings   “ Parrotlets $20   6 months     or   3 Gen. Meetings   Category D               “ Cockatiels $10   3 months     or   2 Gen. Meetings   “ Lovebirds $10   3 months     or   2 Gen. Meetings   “ Canaries $10   3 months     or   2 Gen. Meetings   “ Finches $10   3 months     or   2 Gen. Meetings   “ English Budgies $10   3 months     or   2 Gen. Meetings   Category E               “ Budgies $3   1 month     or   1 Gen. Meetings   “ Society $3   1 month     or   1 Gen. Meetings   “ Zebra $3   1 month     or   1 Gen. Meetings   “ Doves $3   1 month     or   1 Gen. Meetings   Adoption fees for breeder pairs to be determined by the RMSA Board       Exhibit B Non Member Adoption Fee’s Category A Species Adoption Fee   Membership Fee   Total   “ Toucans $70.00   $25.00   $95.00   “ Macaws $70.00   $25.00   $95.00   “ Cockatoos $70.00   $25.00   $95.00   “ African Greys $70,00   $25.00   $95.00   “               “               Category B               “ Amazons $50.00   $25.00   $75.00   “ Senegals $50.00   $25.00   $75.00   “ Jardines $50.00   $25.00