Early 2001 a situation was
brought to the attention of a few concerned people. An Exotic Bird Sanctuary
was reportedly being conducted in a fashion that was not beneficial to the
creatures it claimed to care for. Upon further research and investigation many details surfaced
that supported this report. Pictures were obtained of the deplorable conditions
these birds were being kept. MSPCA was reported to have made an inspection of
the facility, more than once according to their accounts. As recently as October
2004 the Department of Health also inspected the facility. On the below web site you
will see the pictures and read the reports from the parties involved.
Please be advised that some of the pictures are
graphic. The site can be accessed here.
A Brief Timeline…In the last months of 2001, two separate
people reported Robinn Nollet,
of New England Exotic Bird Sanctuary (NEEBS) to the MSPCA for the mistreatment
of approximately 200 exotic birds that she kept in her home. What both
persons had seen at her home were approximately 150 parrots living in cages
that were encrusted with filth. Both of these people had offered to help
Robinn clean up NEEBS. Robinn indicated that she was being pressed by the MSPCA
to improve the birds’ housing conditions. Someone had previously reported
the situation to the MSPCA. The cages and floor were crawling with insects, and
heavy cobwebs laden with dust were hanging from the ceilings.
Blankets and sheets covered the windows and kept out the light.
In the "quarantine" area, which was an open
bathroom, which anybody could and did walk into, were two cages stacked on top
of each other. The bottom of one was covered in urine and feces. Many of
the birds were kept in padlocked cages. Approximately 60 other birds, smaller species
such as zebra finches and cockatiels, were flying freely
in a separate room. A well-known
The MSPCA granted Robinn time to clean up her home, and they followed up
several times. The MSPCA had no legal authority to do anything except
exert moral pressure on Robinn. Robinn was required to take the blankets off of
the windows and install lights in the rooms where the birds were housed.
According to a witness who was a volunteer for NEEBS at the time, once
the MSPCA investigators left, the lights were removed and the blankets and
sheets were put back over the windows. Two veterinarians were brought in to
evaluate the birds though neither of them had a special interest in avian
medicine. They did not require that any of the birds have laboratory testing
performed. In spite of the fact that the MSPCA suspected that Robinn had
temporarily removed approximately 50 birds during their inspection, those two
veterinarians allowed her to continue operation of her "sanctuary."
Lynne Bodon, a wildlife rehabilitator, had been
approached by Robinn, and Robinn asked if she would just keep a couple of birds while
the MSPCA was inspecting the NEEBS.
The graphic pictures of the birds’ conditions were taken
by a volunteer who was working at NEEBS in November of 2003. The MSPCA
was again notified after these photos were taken and until recently, nothing
had been done. The
Affidavits attesting to the truth of the conditions in which these birds are
held are on file with the District Attorney's office.