While people don’t typically think of parrots as being service animals, they can be quite useful in this role.
If you are in need of a service animal, you should consider getting one of these birds.
A parrot makes for an excellent overall companion for many reasons.
Trainability
One of the reasons that parrots make for such excellent service animals is because most of them are highly trainable. These animals are known for their high level of intelligence, making them easy to train most of the time.
Macaws, African Grey Parrots and Cockatoos are all very trainable. They have a reputation for their ability to speak as well. These birds can mimic human speech to a startlingly accurate degree. This is just one of the many reasons that people choose these animals as long term companions.
If you are going to use your parrot as an emotional service animal, training is not necessary. You simply let your bird calm you down with its very presence. You can, however, train parrots to perform certain actions. This can be particularly useful for those who are prone to self-harming behaviors.
Who Can Benefit from Owning a Parrot?
There are many different disabled people who can benefit from having a parrot as a pet. This includes those who have PTSD or a physical disability of some kind. Those who suffer from severe anxiety can find these birds to be incredibly soothing.
Many parrots are very amenable to being held and gentle petting. Even those who have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder can benefit from having a parrot. They have a very comforting presence that lots of people find to be relaxing.
Parrots for Patriots
Parrots for Patriots is a fantastic program that matches veterans of the armed forces with parrots as service animals. This program can be incredibly beneficial for veterans who were not able to get a therapy animal because of housing issues or some other reason.
Many military veterans have used this program to get a service parrot. As we mentioned above, these animals can be great for people with PTSD as well as depression.
You can get started with the process of adopting a parrot by visiting this program’s official website. Assuming you qualify, it shouldn’t take long before you get one of these birds.
A Loyal Companion
Parrots also have a reputation for being incredibly loyal, which is something that people with disabilities can benefit from. Most of these birds treat their owners very well. It doesn’t take long for a parrot to establish a deep and lasting bond with its owner. You can count on many years of loyalty from your parrot, which is a comforting thought all by itself.
Taking Care of Your Parrot
Your parrot can be very helpful to you in lots of different ways, but you must also take good care of it. These birds tend to be fairly high maintenance when compared to other pets. It is very important that you get a large cage for your bird so that it has plenty of space. Most parrots are fairly large, so they need a cage that allows them to spread their wings.
The better of a job you do with caring for your parrot, the better of a service animal they are going to be. It’s also crucial that you give your bird a steady diet of high quality seed and pellet mix with the occasional treat.
Parrots tend to be very social creatures that need a good amount of human interaction on a daily basis. You will, however, need to learn to read your bird’s body language. Your parrot will let you know when it no longer wants to be held. It might do this by vocalizing or suddenly becoming fidgety. If you notice this behavior from your bird, it is time to put them back in their cage.
Things to Consider Before Getting a Parrot
There are a number of things that you’ll want to consider before getting a parrot, including:
- Size: The overall size of the bird is something you’ll want to think about. You might not want to get a very large parrot if you live in a small apartment.
- Temperament: The fact is that some parrots are friendlier than others, so you’ll want to find one that is very gentle and affectionate. You don’t want to have a parrot as a service animal if it is prone to wild mood swings.
- Price: Some parrots can be very expensive, so you need to determine what your budget is in advance. This will help you narrow down your options.
Making it Official
If you want to make your parrot an official service animal, there is a certain process that you will need to follow. The first thing you have to do is to get an ESA letter for a psychiatrist or therapist. This letter needs to be written on the doctor’s official letterhead with all of their licensing details.
This letter will decrease the chances of having to deal with any incidents when you bring your parrot with you into public establishments. You can show someone who works there your ESA letter.
Conclusion
- Parrots are very intelligent animals that are also highly trainable, making them excellent service animals.
- A parrot can make for a great pet if you have PTSD, depression, anxiety, or even bipolar disorder.
- Even those who have a physical disability can really benefit from a well-trained parrot.
- Consider taking advantage of the Parrots for Patriots program if you are a former member of the U.S. armed forces.
- Parrots also make for very loyal companions that will treat you very well over the years.
- It is important that you take good care of your parrot, which includes feeding it a nutritious diet and giving it a spacious cage.
- Make sure that you carefully look over your parrot options before getting one in particular.
- A ESA letter from a mental health professional can make taking your bird with you wherever you go a lot eaiser.
