It’s heartbreaking to imagine how many animals end up neglected. They rely on their owners, who aren’t always ready to keep pets due to their own problems.
If owners can’t take care of their pets, they should take them to a sanctuary and make sure they live a healthy and happy life.
A parrot named Winnie spent years being in neglect. As a result, she developed a health issue that threatened her health. She needed help that her owner could no longer care for them.
A Rescue That Exposed Years Of Neglect
When Winnie arrived at Mulberry Acres Rescue in Brighton, a sanctuary in Michigan, she was twenty-nine years old and had a severely overgrown beak.
The staff was worried about her health.
Winnie was taken in with seven other parrots after their previous owner was no longer able to care for them.
As soon as sanctuary founder Mandy Kocevar saw the parrot’s condition, she decided to take her in. She knew that her condition was the result of years of neglect.
“It was overgrown to the point where it was almost touching her neck. That kind of growth can take years to develop. We found out that the previous owner’s health was the main cause contributing to the neglect,” Kocevar said in an interview.
Having an overgrown beak affects almost every aspect of a bird’s daily life.
Kocevar explained how limiting it could be.
“It prevents the bird from getting good nutrition, hydration and they cannot properly preen themselves,” she said in a TikTok video.
However, Winnie was a resilient parrot and she had “learned how to survive despite her disability.”
Another TikTok video shows staff trimming Winnie’s beak carefully.
Since the process can be stressful for birds, it is done in stages and done by experienced professionals only.
In the clip, we can see Winnie looking more relaxed as the trimming continues. The viewers could only imagine how uncomfortable Winnie felt before her beak was trimmed.
Finding Comfort And Raising Awareness
After Winnie received the care she needed, she settled in the sanctuary, and her behavior began to change.
She became calmer and more affectionate. Kocevar describes her as a “cuddle bug,” a side of her personality that many viewers did not expect after what she had been through.
Kocevar used Winnie’s story to explain why parrots are often misunderstood.
She explained that “Parrots have many different personalities and they are very similar to human toddlers.”
She added, “They love to learn new things and are extremely curious. If you let them out of your sight for two seconds, they will get into everything. They need naps and bedtimes, and plenty of food or else they get hangry and have tantrums. They are silly, have senses of humor, and understand a lot more of the human language than we know.”
The video captured the internet’s attention.
“They’re beaks keep growing? I had no idea,” one person commented.
Another wrote, “I wonder if having a beak that long stopped her from plucking. What a gorgeous bird. It makes me happy seeing her happy.”
Kocevar hopes Winnie’s experience helps others understand how easily exotic pets can fall into neglect.
“The education and awareness for exotic pets is almost non-existent, in comparison to domestic pets,” she said.
She also pointed out that many parrots never see an avian vet because of limited access and high costs.
Macaws can live for decades, sometimes live as long as 75 years, making long-term care essential.
Winnie’s progress shows what can happen when an animal finally receives the care she needs. The adorable parrot enjoys her life more these days.