LUCIUS (Double Yellow Headed Amazon)

This timeline outlines a selection of documented incidents and communications concerning Lucius’s concerning behavior and symptoms. It does not represent the full scope of medical concerns or staff observations.

Additional information was originally recorded in the Parrot Care Log, which was used to note concerning or unusual observations, identify who witnessed them, track who was informed, and document whether any action was taken. This log was an important tool for recognizing health patterns and determining whether issues were addressed. Susanne later removed the Parrot Care Log from the store without notice, and as a result, many months of contextual details—including specific dates, communications, and follow-up actions—were lost. Staff recalls other incidents and/or concerns of wellbeing that are no longer verifiable due to the absence of that documentation.

The information included in this timeline reflects what could be factually supported through photographs, records, and saved communications.

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January 11, 2024
Lucius, a 29-year-old Double Yellow-Headed Amazon, began exhibiting unusual behavior, frequently napping even during busy periods when other birds were alert and active. The Store Manager (SM) observed this and reported the concern directly to the store owner, Susanne Cochran. Susanne dismissed the concern, advising staff to "just keep an eye on him."

January 16, 2024
Lucius’ condition appeared more serious, and SM expressed concern that he could be dying. This prompted Susanne to take him to the vet.

January 17, 2024
Susanne called the store to report that the vet had diagnosed Lucius with an infection. She claimed she was taking him home to administer a two-week course of antibiotics.

January 23, 2024
Despite the vet’s diagnosis, Susanne returned Lucius to the store after just 5 days, without administering any medication. She stated that she did not agree with the vet’s assessment and decided that Lucius was simply overweight. She prescribed her own treatment—reducing his intake of pellets, seeds, and nuts while adding more chop and milk thistle—despite having no veterinary training or veterinary instruction to do so.

February 5, 2024
A part-time staff member noticed Lucius’ excessive napping and questioned why he was sleeping so much. This concern was relayed to SM, who left a note for Susanne. Susanne dismissed it.

February 15, 2024
Lucius remained inactive, sleeping or sitting still for most of the day. SM directly reported these concerns to Susanne in person, but she dismissed the issue.

March 22, 2024
Lucius had now been on Susanne’s prescribed diet for two months, with no signs of improvement. SM and a Parrot Care Specialist (PeJ) brought this up with Susanne, who insisted that he simply needed more time to lose weight. However, Lucius had never been weighed before or after starting the diet, making it impossible to track progress.

April 20, 2024
Lucius continued to nap excessively, showing no change despite the adjusted diet and the addition of milk thistle. In an effort to encourage more movement, SM and PeJ rearranged his cage, adding short perches and toys while removing a perch in front of his food bowl to prevent him from sitting idly in one spot.

June 5, 2024
Lucius displayed serious mobility issues, struggling with stability and coordination in his wings and legs. Concerned, SM and PeJ recorded a video and sent it to Susanne via text. Susanne speculated that he might have fallen or even suffered a stroke but showed no sense of urgency. She instructed staff to "see how he is acting tomorrow" rather than seeking immediate medical care.

June 6, 2024
Despite having acknowledged the possibility of a stroke, Susanne decided that Lucius was fine. However, she specifically instructed staff not to give him a shower that day, breaking from standard cleaning procedures.

October 1, 2024
After nearly a year of continued lethargy and inactivity, all staff members unanimously agreed that Lucius needed a vet visit. Staff raised the concern with Susanne in person. She responded that she would take him to the vet "next week."

October 16, 2024
When Susanne mentioned taking another bird, Lola, to the vet, SM reminded her that she had previously promised to take Lucius in the prior week but never did. Susanne claimed she "didn’t remember" and then stated that she needed to "think about it," once again delaying medical intervention.

January 31, 2025
Lucius had now been on Susanne’s "prescribed" diet and milk thistle regimen for an entire year. There was no improvement—he remained inactive, silent, and spent most of his time with his eyes closed and his head back, a highly abnormal posture for a parrot. SM continued to document and report these observations through detailed notes for Susanne. However, she was rarely at the store and ignored or dismissed the reports when she was present.

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Conclusion
Lucius’ ongoing lethargy, mobility issues, and unusual sleeping posture have been signs of concern for over a year. Despite staff raising multiple concerns and a vet initially diagnosing him with an infection, Susanne ignored professional medical advice and refused to provide proper treatment. Instead, she imposed an unscientific diet with no measurable progress and continually dismissed worsening symptoms.

Video of Lucius displaying balance issues or indications of a neurological concern.

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