Foster parenting

Our foster parents are caring, conscientious volunteers who care for displaced rescue birds until a permanent home can be found. These individuals are trained through Gulf Avian Protection and Research Center (GAPRC) in bird care, and they supply food, treats, and love while GAPRC supplies cages, toys, and medical care.  Foster parents are expected to drive his/her foster bird(s) to the veterinarian if necessary. They might also have to drive to pick up the bird(s) or drop them off to a permanent home. Foster parents may become permanent parents should they wish to do so.


Permanent adoption

When a bird is brought to our organization, we begin searching through our adoption applications for a good match. All permanent adoption parents must have an application on file and must attend a Bird Education class. There are three (3) GAPRC lecture series in the education seminars that must be completed.

An adoption fee is to be paid by the new owners. The adoption fee varies by species. Birds adopted from GAPRC may not be sold, given away, or used as “breeder stock.” If a new owner cannot keep an adopted bird, the bird must be returned to GAPRC.

Criteria for adopting/fostering a bird from us

• Attend a GAPRC bird care class.

• Submit an adoption/fostering/volunteer application.

• Once these two criteria are met, a GAPRC volunteer will call you for a phone screen.

• After the phone screen, we will schedule a home visit.

Meeting these criteria before adopting or fostering a bird is important for several reasons; learn more about why. You may want to read about common misconceptions about rescue groups as well before the application process.

Please bear with us during the screening process. GAPRC is an all-volunteer organization and it may take some time to complete this process.

Application Forms

Permanent Adoption Application

Foster Parenting Application

Volunteer application

Disclaimer:

Our primary concern is the well being of these animals. The majority of them have at some time, either been abused, neglected, sick or injured. For these reasons, all prospective foster and /or adoptive parents must fill out an application and attend one of our regularly scheduled bird education classes, please see our scheduled events page for our next scheduled class. You must also participate in our screening process prior to receipt of any bird. We charge an adoption fee for all birds adopted from GAPRC. The amount of the fee depends on the species of bird adopted. Due to our commitment to place these birds in the best possible environment, we reserve the right to refuse adoption/fostering of any bird to anyone for any reason.

We also reserve the right to repossess any birds adopted/fostered if we find for any reason their care requirements are not being met. Additionally, applicants must sign a written contract stating that:

No birds adopted/fostered from GAPRC shall be used for breeding purposes. If for any reason they can no longer keep one of our adopted birds, they agree to arrange for immediate return of the bird to GAPRC . For this reason no birds will be adopted outside the state of Kuwait. And, finally, due to the responsibilities involved in pet ownership, and the possibility of incurring significant costs associated with veterinary care, by signing a foster or adoption application, all applicants signify that they are at least 18 years of age.

If you become a GAPRC Volunteer, or adopt from us, there are a few policies we wish to be up front about to avoid any misunderstandings later on. Our volunteers and foster parents are our most valuable assets, and we’d like to keep it that way.

As a GAPRC Volunteer or adoptive parent, you may, from time to time be trusted with confidential personal information regarding, but not limited to address, telephone, and other personal information of other GAPRC volunteers and adoptive parents. It is our policy that this information is not only proprietary, but confidential as well. In the interest of professionalism, no one who volunteers for or adopts from GAPRC will be authorized to share, or otherwise disseminate this information for any reason, not limited to sales pitches, business opportunities, or any other activities which may present a conflict of interest, or otherwise result in any harm to GAPRC or any of its agents, foster parents, adoptive parents, or other volunteers. By returning this application, you are certifying that you will abide by each and every one of these terms, as well as the terms of the application itself.

After we receive your application you will be contacted and invited to our next Bird Education Class