Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
The 'Pigeon Lady' from HOME ALONE 2 (Not the actual woman housing these 600 birds)
Move over, crazy cat ladies, there's an new queen of excessive pet ownership.
After complaints from neighbors about the animals' safety in the Columbus suburb of Clintonville, advocates from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) arrived to investigate on Tuesday, only to discover more than 600 parakeets, cockatiels, finches, Macaws, African grey parrots, Amazon parrots and cockatoos in the 1,000-square-foot home.
“Upon arriving at the home, it was clear an intervention was needed to remove these birds from the property and provide them with the quality of life they deserve,” Jessica Rushin, an ASPCA official, told FOX28 Columbus.
The Columbus Humane had to close for the day to handle the job. Animal support center appointments continued, but new adoption pickups needed to be rescheduled. According to the Columbus Dispatch, it took about 10 hours to free the birds.
“Our immediate goal is to relocate the birds to a temporary shelter where avian experts can evaluate the condition of each bird to ensure they receive the care they need. We are pleased to be able to provide resources and assist Columbus Humane with their life-saving efforts,” Rushin said.
U-Haul trucks, three vans and a trailer were all used to transport and house the birds. The birds will be taken to a temporary shelter where the birds will receive medical assessments and care.
The Columbus Humane CEO, Rachel Finney, told Fox 28 that workers observed missing feathers on some birds and some signs of plucking mutilation.
The homeowner, was identified as Susan Stieve, a member of a national bird showing organization and is a former national champion exhibitor. She also works at Ohio State in Horticulture and Crop Sciences. Stieve is not currently facing any charges.
