BOB (Blue and Gold Macaw)

Bob, a female Blue and Gold Macaw, arrived at Avalon Aviary in early 2024 along with Sadie, a female Eclectus parrot. Susanne Cochran told staff that the birds were being temporarily boarded for a friend who needed time to find housing. A staff note dated March 25, 2024, reflected Susanne’s claim that the owner was going to return for them soon, but no such retrieval occurred.

Immediately after their arrival, staff observed that both Bob and Sadie had extremely foul, runny droppings. Susanne and her husband Craig both acknowledged the issue. Multiple staff members recall Craig acknowledging that the birds appeared unwell.

Craig placed the birds only a few feet away from the other customer-owned birds boarding in the same building. Staff were instructed by Susanne to administer vinegar water, a home remedy, but no veterinary care was initiated during that time. This was done multiple times by staff, without improvement. Because they were not yet considered Avalon’s property, none of this was tracked in the Parrot Care Log at the time.

Despite Avalon’s own boarding contract, which states that if an owner does not return within 10 days, the bird is considered surrendered, both parrots remained in the boarding area for nearly a year. At some point Bob and Sadie were reclassified as “store birds.” Once this change was made, a Parrot Care Log was started for both of them due to their ongoing symptoms. However, photos of the entries for these two birds were not taken before Susanne removed the Parrot Care Log from the premises. As a result, some dates and written documentation of symptoms or actions are unavailable. The Store Manager started a new Care Log and those details are contained herein.

Bob continued to have persistent, foul-smelling diarrhea for the duration of her time at Avalon. She was never evaluated or treated by a veterinarian.

June 20, 2024 – Facial Injuries Discovered
On the morning of June 20, 2024, Bob appeared normal and uninjured when observed by the morning feeder. Within approximately 20 minutes of Craig Perkins being in the back of the building where she was housed, another staff member discovered that Bob had sustained fresh, injuries on both sides of her face.

Staff informed Susanne immediately, who then went to Bob’s cage and saw the same injuries for herself. She dismissed the concerns and took no action.

Photos were taken of the injuries by multiple staff members. The injuries appeared consistent with fingernail marks, and multiple staff commented their independent conclusion as such. Staff frequently observed Craig interacting with birds in ways that were perceived as forceful, particularly in situations involving lunging or attempted bites. Given her known defensive behavior and Craig’s handling style, some staff suspected she may have been grabbed during an interaction. To the best of staff’s knowledge, no other individuals entered the area during that brief window of time.

The injuries took approximately two weeks to heal. No medical care, pain medication, or documentation followed.

January 10 2025
Susanne brought a container of Probiotics to the store and asked that staff give a pinch on the food of the birds who have had ongoing poop issues (loose, smelly, diarrhea, etc) Bob was one of those birds. This was done for 3 weeks. Her symptoms did not resolve.

February 11 2025
Per Susanne, a part time feeder let Bob out of her cage and Bob got bit and injured by another bird. PeJ, the Parrot Care Associate, was informed by Susanne of this incident and shown Bob's bloody wing. No veterinary care or pain medication was provided to Bob.

February 22 2025 – Suspected Seizure
The store’s contracted bird groomer attempted to groom Bob's nails. During the process of removing Bob from her cage, Bob fell/collapsed in her cage and exhibited a physical reaction that the groomer believed looked like a seizure. She immediately stopped, wrapped Bob in a towel, and brought her to the Store Manager and another staff member. The Store Manager advised the groomer not to groom her and asked the other staff member (cashier JJ) to promptly report the incident to Susanne. Bob was never taken to a veterinarian.

Bob died in mid-March 2025, over a year after arriving at Avalon, and never received veterinary care.

This account is based on direct observations, documentation, and recollections from former staff. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, and any conclusions drawn are based on the information available to those involved at the time. The intention is not to defame any individual, but to raise awareness of concerns related to animal care and safety.

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