I write this on the evening of July 26, 2004.  Sam passed away today as a result of complications from his surgery.  I wish that I could say he had a great life, but to be quite honest, he didn't.  One of his first memories was being torn from his parents in the wild at only a few weeks of age.  He then endured a scary trip towards the U.S., most likely with no food or water, while watching the majority of the others with him die slow and painful deaths.  Upon reaching a pet store somewhere in the U.S., he was promised a great life with lots of love and attention from the purchaser.  As with all baby bird purchases, the cute and cudly baby became what the pet store did not tell the buyer what Sam would become - a wild parrot with wild behaviors.  What else would anybody think a baby wild parrot would grow up to be?  How about a grown up wild parrot.  After Sam was tossed around from place to place for many years, he finally ended up in rescue and found something he had never quite known before.  Love.  This love came from the one place it was meant to come from - another parrot.  A Blue Crowned Conure named Chad.  Just last night, the two of them were playing together happily on some bamboo, one of their favorite chew things.  As they played together, little did they know that it was to be their last playtime together.  Despite Sam's newfound love and the constant supply of tasty, healthy food, and of course the endless supply of bamboo, it was far from the life he knew best from previous years - a life of fear, lonliness, and knowing he was unwanted for so long.  This is all due to animal exploitation.  They are kept for their beauty, while inside they do not feel so beautiful.  They are kept for our society's entertainment, or something to look at such as one would keep a fancy and expensive painting around.  Sadly, Sam is not the first, nor will he be the last to endure such a life.  He should have been left in his parent's nest to enjoy a life of freedom, just where they are meant to be.  Remember, parrots have wings for a reason.

-Matt Smith-

For Sam: ???-7/26/04

One last picture together:  Chad (top) and Sam (bottom)

For Sam