Don't get me wrong, I love the basis of their philosophies...
The MyToos posters are some of the most idiotic, hypocritical people I have ever run across. And if I were to so much as hint at such, I'd probably be burned at the stake. People on there have an unusually high ban-fear ("I need advice on whether or not it's time to euthanize my budgie, I hope I don't get banned because it's not a cockatoo.")
Many aren't against breeding cats and dogs because they are better "suited" to captivity (they have been domesticated.) Basically, "parrots have it harder as pets, so it's okay that thousands more dogs and cats are abused, neglected, abandoned and killed than are birds. Go ahead and make more of them, even though in doing so, you are CREATING health problems such as hip dysplasia/heart disease/cancer in large breeds, aggression in small breeds, etc." All they could say was that they aren't against breeding other pets because toos have it SO bad. I think someone even said "I didn't ask about breeding birds as it compares to dogs and cats, I asked IF dogs and cats should be bred." So what, let's not make laws against child neglect because there's molesters out there? Let's go ahead and litter because factories put out way more waste? That doesn't even make sense. Just like them. And I think they let emotions get involved and are all over how different dogs are from birds, saying they don't really require much care and the only thing they have in common is a need for food/water/air... Um... no. They needs hours of attention and exercise, and store kibble is about as bad as feeding a parrot seed only. They need training, socialization, boundaries... just like birds. They need to be told they are loved, they need to feel as though that are part of a pack (flock.) A big one was "well birds self-mutilate to they have it worse," which not only has NOTHING to do with whether dogs/cat should be bred, but someone came in telling how they have a rescued dog that does/has self-mutilated. And BTW, people self-mutilate, so why are you making babies?
They all got mad at someone for suggesting euthanizing her cockatoo when she was too old to care for it, so that it wouldn't be bounced home-to-home. I think this is unfair but realistic. All they could say was "it's not euthanasia unless it's because the animal is suffering and can't get better and/or is very old." "It's not okay to end a life that could continue." Well, death is death, and while it's not fair to have to take a healthy life, they don't know any better and it WOULD be better than bad home after bad home. Someone came in and said "so, are you all vegans, because animals for food are killed when they aren't in pain or old/dying." NOBDOY got what that person was saying and flat out said so.
When a link (http://www.theangryparrot.org/other_animals_in_retail.htm) was posted about farm animals and the shit they go through, someone goes - "I am not sure how I feel about the farm tirade on their page.... I am an animal lover, but I do eat meat, drink milk and so on.... I also live in farm country and some large Dairy farms may not be nice but most of the Dairy Cattle right in my neighborhood have it pretty good, they graze outside all day and are not penned up... So, I am still not sure how I feel about that part of the rant..... I would be interested in hearing your opinions on it.... I feel they are showing the worst of the worst of farms,,, but maybe I am terribly naive?...."
So... MyToos shows THE WORST of pet cockatoos. And then they go "no one ever breed ever no matter what or buy ever no matter what," but farm animals kept in even more abusive conditions can pass under the radar? Go ahead and keep breeding and using them? Yes, toos may be smarter, but farm animals are pretty smart too. And intelligence does not determine how much abuse is okay.
I am so sick of all the shit there, and you just know they are popping out human babies like mad. It's making it EXTREMELY difficult to decide how I feel about buying from a breeder. My biggest reason for questioning what to do is that if I only will take in four or so birds, then maybe I should get them from shelters. But then, I want birds that will fit well with me, with future kids (this is one of the big things,) with life changes such as moving around and taking trips and having other animals running around and loud music playing and... everything that life just HAS. So I'm VERY torn about all of this. Because I know what birds will fit well with me:
Vasa - Probably would never find one second-hand. Hardly any negatives out there about them. I know of a pretty good breeder for them, tough maybe not perfect.
CAG - Definitely can get them second-hand, though from certain breeders they are SO well-adjusted in comparison... but in general I do not agree with any breeding of this bird even moreso than most. I know of a good breeder, but don't see myself ever NOT taking in one that really needs love and care and hasn't gotten it, even though this means more problems and possibly less bonding.
BE2 - I disagree with breeding toos in general, but BEs sound SO different, and they are practically never available in rescues, though sometimes second-hand via online classifieds. I know of a breeder that is SO GOOD for these that it would be hard to NOT get from them, even though it'd be nice to adopt an older female, so I know the mature personality.
RFcaw - Again, very well suited to more people than others and practically never found in rescues. I know of an extremely good breeder for these if I were to decide to go that route.
I think the fact that this applies to most birds I want says a lot about how well I've researched and chosen birds that would do well as companions. One main thing is that birds change with maturity, so one that is older I would know what it'll be like long-term... but a younger one froma great breeder can be more successfully "shaped." Getting from breeders and NOT adopting is SO AGAINST my personal philosophies in more ways than one... and MyToos isn't helping in me deciding which is right.
I don't even know yet if I want that many birds, so I need to figure out my priorities before I get one so I know which would work the best with me. I also would want to know which would work the best for Reuben, which he likes the most, etc. I've told him about them, but he hasn't really said how much he'd like any of them. I want it to be something HE wants as well.