Avian Sanctuary, Recovery and Community
The Avian Care and Recovery Program
Kerulos and the Midwest Avian Adoption and Rescue Services (MAARS) have established the Avian Care & Recovery Program to aid parrots recovering from severe psychological trauma. This program integrates science and sanctuary. It is an innovative, state-of-the-art education, training, and care facility. Kerulos and MAARS actively collaborate in research, scientific publications, and presentations on parrot psychological trauma.
Project News
In August 2010, we presented three papers at the national Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) conference, San Diego, California, where we discussed clinical results describing how psychotherapeutic methods developed for humans have been used for parrots (see publications listed below). Our studies describe the diagnosis and treatment of five male cockatoo residents suffering from profound relational trauma.
Peanut’s Progress: The Journal and Journeys of a Macaw and her Therapist
Volunteer Susan Donohue chronicles her experience as she learns about parrot trauma recovery in her growing relationship with Peanut, a blue and gold macaw, at MAARS. Read the journal here.
Publications
Bradshaw, G.A. and E. McCarthy. 2010. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among parrots in captivity: Treatment considerations. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. 29th Annual Conference, San Diego, CA .
McCarthy, E. and G.A. Bradshaw. 2010. The role of patient consent in psychotherapy: A Discussion on the Ethics of Flooding. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. 29th Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.
Bradshaw, G.A., J. Yenkosky, & E. McCarthy. 2009. Avian affective dysregulation: Psychiatric models and treatment for parrots in captivity. Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians . 28th Annual Conference, Minnesota.
Orosz S, Bradshaw GA. Neuroanatomy of the companion avian parrot. Vet Clin North Am Exotic Anim Pract. 2007;10:775–802.
Support the parrots.
photo credits
"Panama", courtesy Jeff Borchers
back to top
© 2012 Kerulos Center All rights reserved
"Science in service to animals"
