Note:The following article was written by one of our customers. Melissa fell in love with a Dusky Pionus at another store and brought her home only to lose her to illness--despite her efforts and those of an excellent veterinarian. Melissa is now the proud mother of ''Daniel'' a baby Bronze Winged Pionus she purchased recently from Parrot Island.

Thank you Melissa for sharing your story.
- Shari

What would you say if someone told you that your bird could get tuberculosis from gay people? That is absurd, but that is what I was told by a pet store manager. Shari asked if I would share my story in this newsletter. I am confident this will shock you.

I saw the most beautiful Dusky Pionus in the world, and I had to have her. She had been at this pet store for the entire year and a half of her life. She was temperamental and had a reputation for attacking people she did not like, but fell in love with me. I spent about two months visiting her before taking her home with me. Everything was wonderful, then, three weeks later she wasn't acting like herself. I took her to the emergency clinic. I had her admitted for the weekend and then took her to my veterinarian on Monday morning. By Thursday, we had to put her down. Autopsy results revealed Aspergillosis and Avian Tuberculosis, both fatal.

The store manager refunded the cost of the Dusky Pionus and offered to cover some, if not all, of the vet bills (totaling $800.00) after receiving the results from two birds from the store she sent out to be tested. The results of these two birds came back negative for Tuberculosis. I explained to her that my avian veterinarian assured me both diseases were chronic. The pet store manager insisted that the Pionus (my first bird) picked up her disease after purchase. I asked her how (in three weeks) this was possible. Her response follows:

"You live in an area with a high gay population, therefore, a high AIDS population. Tuberculosis isn't uncommon in people with AIDS. Tuberculosis is airborne, so the Pionus clearly picked it up from the air in the neighborhood."

That level of ignorance is very sad. I am grateful there are people in business like Terry. The happy ending to this story is that I am now the proud mother of the Bronze Winged Pionus named Daniel (if anyone saw him at Parrot Island). Thanks again to everyone at Parrot Island.

Editor's note: The species of tuberculosis bacteria diagnosed in Melissa's bird (by a qualified avian veterinarian) is neither transmittable from bird to human nor human to bird. There is a species of tuberculosis bacteria that can be carried by birds and spread to people. Of the commonly kept companion birds, tuberculosis seems to be primarily carried by the finch family.

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Additional Special Interest articles:

• ''Break A Leg''
• For the Love of Parrots
• Why Not a Parakeet, Cockatiel, or Other Small Parrot
• A Terrific Minnesota Trip
• Sally's Product Review
• Traveling with My Birds
• For Popeye

• All Articles
• Introduction to Parrot Island
• General Care of Pet Birds
• Diet and Nutrition
• Safety Articles
• Behavioral Information
• Veterinary Health
• Species Specific
• Recommended Reading