“When I was little, my mother had a Gabonese Grey… I wanted to repeat the experience, but it went badly“, says Catherine, a 31-year-old nurse from Flémalle. An animal lover, she decided to acquire a parrot on May 16 in a pet store in the Liège region. “I went to the store several times, I had a real connection with this parrot“, she remembers. After several days of reflection, she decided to buy it at the price of €1,850.
As soon as he arrives home, the young parrot, Pedro, shows worrying signs: coughing and loss of feathers. “Everyone told me it was stress“, explains Catherine. Worried, she considered having her bird tested for the five main parrot diseases, but the pet store dissuaded her: “They told me a story about a parrot that never woke up after a blood test“. Indeed, the parrots must be anesthetized in order to take a blood sample.
The radio revealed…
Despite her fears, Catherine finally consults a veterinarian; she does not want to take a blood test the first time, but given the worsening state of Pedro’s health, she changes her mind. “He started to lose his feathers a lot. We did anesthesia, a blood test, an x-ray… it was the x-ray that revealed a nodule in the lung. It was a fungus that contaminated it“, she relates, her voice tight with emotion.
The parrot is treated, but his condition gets even worse. It feathers itself to the point of attacking its skin. The final diagnosis came as a blow: he was diagnosed with beak and feather disease, an autoimmune disease comparable to AIDS in humans. “Vu the bad prognosis, we decided to let him go“, confides Catherine, heartbroken. Pedro was therefore euthanized at 10 months and 26 days, very young for an animal that can live for several decades.
Formal notice
La Flémalloise suspects the pet store of being the cause of her parrot’s illness. “I went four times for shopping and advice. It was from the second time that I said he was coughing“, she remembers. The employee then assured her that the parrot’s cough was not serious, that he was simply imitating an employee who coughed while preparing the seed mixtures. “I think they wanted to stop me from taking the blood test“, says Catherine, who paid more than 2,500 euros at the pet store with all the accessories, to which are added 500 euros in veterinary costs, 200 euros for analyzes and 60 euros for medication.
“My vet said to me: ‘Don’t tell me he comes from there? They do not respect isolation, the parrots contaminate each other’“, adds Catherine, specifying that her veterinarian is familiar with breeding and its practices. “They make us sign a document indicating that they can exchange the animal if it has an illness. I didn’t go to the bakery, they don’t sell an animal like a roll. He spoke to me very quickly, he was really good, it’s quite sad.“
Determined to obtain justice, Catherine contacted Testachats. “Normally it is one year warranty. They have a document signed stating that they are selling the animal, but do not guarantee its lifespan. A document states that we have 48 hours to say if there are illnesses“, she is indignant. Testachats has sent a formal notice to the pet store, which has 15 days to respond favorably, failing which the consumer association is ready to take legal action.
Contacted by us, the pet store in question did not respond to our requests for interviews.
What does the law say?
Heidi Trasschaert, lawyer from the Walloon Animal Welfare Unit, confirms that the pet store in question is indeed approved. “Animal establishments must comply with the approval conditions set by a decree of the Walloon Government“, she explains. “They must have a contract veterinarian; the latter must visit the establishment once a quarter. Animals should be checked twice a day. If they do not appear healthy, the manager should contact the contract veterinarian.” Heidi Trasschaert also recalls that “no animal in contact with an animal suffering from a contagious disease may be sold, unless the contract veterinarian declares it to be in good health and suitable for sale.“.
Freedom of trade
Concerning the 48-hour guarantee applied by the pet store, the lawyer explains that “any merchant can apply its terms and conditions. When the buyer signs these terms and conditions, they know what to expect. It is freedom of trade, freedom of contract“. She emphasizes, however, that “whatever the animal, if you buy the animal and you have doubts, you go see a veterinarian to have a diagnosis and have evidence. You should not go and ask for permission from the pet store. I understand that she was discouraged by the pet store, but if there is a conflict between the buyer and seller, the best thing is for her to get veterinary advice. If the seller is not very attentive, you have to go before the justice of the peace.”
Not so frequent checks
Asked about the frequency of checks in pet stores, Heidi Trasschaert specifies: “The pet store was approved in 2015. There is a mandatory check at the time of approval. Today, it’s 2024, so it’s been maybe 10 years since the pet store was inspected.”
Bruno Cardinal, coordinator of the Animal Welfare Unit of the SPW, adds that “theApproved pet stores must meet complete specifications. It is the responsibility of the pet store to provide care, to call a veterinarian, etc.“
“If there are suspicions regarding animal welfare, or non-compliance with legislation, it is important for citizens to contact us“, insists Bruno Cardinal. “This type of pet store is part of our scope of control. We are a small team of 13 people in the field, partly veterinarians. If there is any suspicion of a problem, it is important that it be made known.“
To report a problem to the Animal Welfare Unit, contact 1718 and type 2.”The report will be taken into account and will be followed up“, assures the coordinator.
Towards 150 seizures in 2024
The Unit opened 2,563 files in 2023, mainly based on complaints. “In addition to these files, we collaborate with the police zones. We offer our expertise to police officers who operate more locally“, explain Bruno Cardinal. “In 2023, there will be 110 seizures for the protection of more than 1000 animals. For 2024, we will certainly reach 150 seizures.“
The coordinator of the Animal Welfare Unit also confirms that he is “entirely possible that the pet store has not been inspected since it received its approval“.
Unsuitable living conditions?
According to Michel Vandenbosch, president of GAIA, purchasing exotic animals from a pet store is rarely a good idea. “They may be traumatized by their confinement and isolation. If the vet in question thinks this isn’t the first sick parrot in question, that says a lot.“, he declares. “Do not go to pet stores, as you may be greatly disappointed. Take a look at a shelter, as they may have taken in a gray parrot.“
Michel Vandenbosch also calls for thinking about the lifestyle of the sought-after animal: “Like all parrots, they are among the most intelligent birds. They are social beings. When you lock them in a cage alone, where they never come out, they start to pull out their feathers. It’s probably also due to boredom. They are such intelligent birds that they become frustrated, it is neurotic behavior. It’s abnormal and aberrant“, dénonce Michel Vandenbosch.
I want to go far
Whatever happens, Catherine does not intend to stop there, she wants to do everything to change the methods of this pet store: “I want to go far, it won’t make it for me, but I want this store to make an effort, I want them to stop selling this like hot cakes, without being sure that the animal is not in good health, It’s not conceivable.”she concludes, bitterly.
