14 April 2009

Parrot Sweaters

Let's admit it: There are very few things you can do with old socks. Sure, you can use them as tiny dust rags or donate them to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but wouldn't it be nice if you could put them to more useful use?

Best Friends Animal Society provides a solution to this conundrum. As America's largest no-kill domestic pet and wildlife sanctuary, the Kanab, Utah sanctuary has taken in more than a dozen parrots from neglectful and abusive owners. Many of them, according to the organization's web site, suffer from anxiety disorders that cause them to pluck their feathers, leaving them feather-less (bald?) and less able to regulate their body temperature. Parrot sweaters--either knitted or crocheted by hand or created from thick, used socks--protect the birds from fluctuations in temperature and distract them from causing harm to themselves. Specialists at the sanctuary also say they're intellectually stimulating.

Because Best Friends is a non-profit, they are always eager to accept donations from anyone kind enough to help them out. So any lightly-used adult mid-calf socks that you could spare would most likely be put to good use. Just contact chandra@bestfriends.org if you want more information.

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