!!Success Stories!!
If you have a Meika’s Safehouse adoption success story you would like to share, we would love to hear it! Please send it to any one of these platforms along with up to 5 photos!!
Email - info@meikassafehouse.com
WhatsApp - 780-717-4457
Facebook messenger - Meika’s Safehouse
I adopted Chromeo, the Eastern Rosella, in 2019. I wanted a bird to keep my green cheeked conure company while I was at work. Chromeo was absolutely stunning, though I was warned he was pretty timid and would likely want to stay in his cage.
Holy smokes was I in for a surprise 😂
Chromeo, AKA Borble, is a delightful, sassy and beautifully awkward bowling pin shaped parrot! He is the king of playing dumb, and will troll his humans when he's bored by sitting juuuuust beside the plants he knows he's not supposed to eat. He imitates all things that beep, chirp and whistle, and has trained every bird and human in the household to make the Twitter notification sound as our contact call. While he still doesn't like to be touched or handled (sorry Dr. Mandrusiak 😂😅), Chromeo will follow his human and bird flock around the house, go into his cage (mostly) on command and serenades us with his finest doot-doots every evening.
Hello! I’m Chromeo!
Sophie - Blue Fronted Amazon
I first met Sophie in February of 2024 while visiting Meika’s Birdhouse. When I walked into the room, I heard a sweet ‘hello’ in a sea of noise, and a beautiful Blue-Fronted Amazon was climbing towards the front of her cage. There was kindness in her eyes, and she looked at me with a depth of curiosity. At that moment, I knew she was extraordinarily special. Sophie was 30 years old at the time and had been at Safehouse for nearly a year, waiting for the right person to come along. While I had no intention of adopting a parrot when I walked in that day, I certainly did when I left, and I continued to visit as often as I could to get to know her. It wasn’t long before I filled out an application to begin the adoption process, and a couple of months later, she was able to come home.
Sophie is now 31 years old and lives the country life. She loves to be outside, going for walks, enjoying the greenhouse, coming along for chores, and spending time in her aviary. She even has her very own room in our home with everything a parrot could ask for. As with many Amazons, Sophie is very particular about who she likes and dislikes, but she loves to visit new places and say “hello” to everyone she meets. She also has quite a talent for whistling tunes and enjoys being part of the conversation. She’ll say, “want some” on repeat if you’re eating in her presence, “up, up” when she wants to step up or move from place to place, and “WOOOOP!” when someone is laughing or having a great time. She loves to make a mess, eat snacks, and be the center of attention, so if you’re a parent, this will sound all too familiar.
Amazon parrots aren't typically recommended for a 'first parrot' for a long list of reasons, but I was determined to do everything I could to give Sophie the life she deserved, and I am truly grateful to the staff at Meika’s Safehouse for giving me that chance. While I don't know a lot about her past, Sophie will be a part of our family for the next 30-40 years, and she will be loved and spoiled each and every day.
Alumni testimonial for Kola - Green Cheek Conure
In September 2022 we decided to welcome our first bird into our family. After months of research—and a friend’s recommendation—we reached out to Meika’s Safehouse. With no prior bird experience, we were looking for the right match for our lifestyle. They introduced us to Kola, and they couldn’t have picked a better bird.
Kola’s previous owner had to surrender him due to illness, but he’s found his forever home with us. He amazes us daily with his big personality, intelligence, and trainability—he’s already learned 24 tricks and behaviours! Kola has become a cherished family member and goes everywhere with us, from family visits to camping at the lake.
We truly appreciated the Safehouse team’s support from day one—the detailed application, the virtual home visit that pointed out hazards we hadn’t considered, and the thoughtful transition with Kola’s cage, toys, and history from his previous owner. Adopting through Meika’s was such a positive experience, and we are so grateful to have Kola in our lives.
Hello! We’re Mango, Tango, (late) Jimmy, Saffron and Teiko
While Jimmy is no longer with us, we adore all of our birds that came from Meika’s. They all have their own quirks, challenges, stories, and some have health issues. The rescue provides a ton of information and assistance, and the option for bird sitting and trims is incredibly helpful.
Kai - The Quaker!
We fell in love with Kai from the moment we read the first few words on his bio describing him as "a nice little guy". Since having him home we've learned as simple as those few words were, the same simplicity could be said for him in terms of what he wants most in the world: just to be with us (more specifically, on us). However, it does need to be said that he does turn into a little dinosaur if you get in between him and that one specific driving goal. Over these past months he's truly been living his best life as we’ve upgraded him to a birdy mansion (which he happily defends with his life). The best part of him joining our family though has been the fact that we're never done learning about him. Every so often he will surprise us with something new, most recently it was the words "who's a good birdy" and "kiss, kiss" as well as discovering his love for chopsticks. Some other things that we've discovered his fondness for include: Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, spicy peppers and pooping exclusively on one very particular part of the couch (he taught himself this, it must feel good on his little feet- unfortunately for us). If you've made it this far I'm sure you're wondering what's next in store for this little blue bud, well, we're currently in the midst of designing him his very own jungle playroom and have even bigger plans of trying to get him to poop literally anywhere other than the couch (however that last one we admit is likely a pipe dream).
Izzy - Cockatiel
When we decided to add a second parrot to our home, we adopted again from Meika’s Safehouse. This time, we let the bird choose us. Unfortunately, after months of struggling with some challenging behaviours—and with the Safehouse staff’s patient guidance—it became clear that this bird wasn’t thriving in our home. Making the heart-breaking decision to return him was incredibly difficult, but the Safehouse team showed us such compassion and understanding. They made the process as easy as possible and reminded us that sometimes the kindest choice is to ensure a bird finds the environment that suits them best.
Not long after, the staff helped us meet a better match—and that’s how “Busy Izzy” joined our family in May 2025. Izzy has been an absolute delight: friendly, curious, affectionate, and determined. She’s even learned to travel happily with us and came along on her first camping trip this summer! We’re so grateful to Meika’s Safehouse for their unwavering support and for helping us find the right feathered fit for our home.
Eva Jane!!!
Eva Jane has brought us immeasurable amounts of joy and love. In January 2026, she will have been our little girly bird for 4 years and every day is such a treasure! Thank you Meika’s Safehouse for this precious soul!
Bunny-too!!
Bunny-too’s Adoption story
After hanging out with so many cockatoos, we realized we needed one of these feathery divas in our lives… we just hadn’t found our perfect match yet. Enter Bunny he was a bit feather-challenged, really quiet—or so we thought—seemed a bit scared and sweet 35 year old - Lesser Sulfer Crested Cockatoo. He was given up because his owner’s health. After a couple of weeks of visiting him, we realized he needed to join our Flock as Mom always wanted a big bird. But guess what - he chose Dad! He’s big, loud, and full of mischief, like a feathered tornado. Yet, he’s the most caring of all our birds, with a sixth sense for when something’s wrong with his Flock. When Bunny yells, you better drop everything and check. It’s like the cockatoo version of a fire alarm, only with more squawking and less beeping.
Success story for Eleena!
While working at Meika’s Birdhouse I fell in love with one of the fosters. A little lovebird named Leena which is now short for Thumbeleena, as I adopted her about 3 years ago now! She has her own bedroom with a flock of other feathered friends and is loving her life! She truly is my best friend and I would have never met her if it wasn’t for Meika’s!
Mango!! White Bellied Caique!!
My son and I adopted Mango from Meikas Safehouse in May of 2018. Mango did not like women so I wasn’t sure she would take to me. After two days of Mango chasing me around, being an attack birb she took to me and has been by my side ever since. Mango is one happy girl! She is mischievous and affectionate and I love her for all that she is.
Tikal and His Forever Home!
Tikal joined our feathery circus in April 2017. We waltzed into Meika’s like unsuspecting humans, met this adorable Cockatiel who had just been surrendered, and—bam!—he unleashed his charm offensive. We didn’t stand a chance. He practically signed his own adoption papers with his head tilts and chirpy charisma.
He fit right in with his new ‘roommates’ Mia and Maya, like he’d been rehearsing for this sitcom his whole life. Tikal loves being the centre of attention; honestly, if he had a tiny microphone, he’d host his own talk show. Whenever he’s out and about, you’ll hear his ‘greatest hits’—imagine a feathered diva with no off switch.
We’re truly blessed (and mildly entertained 24/7) to have him in our lives. Feathers, flair, and fabulousness—Tikal’s got it all!
Hansi - Quaker Parrot!!
I first met Hansi at Meika's. I tried to get him to step up, he tried to bite me, I pulled away, laughed and said ok. He looked at me, laughed back, said "ok" and "you're funny". That was love at first sight... between him and my partner. I had to earn it later. I can say our life became much less boring after getting him. He has a mind of his own and a lot of personality. In our two years together he became much less bitey, but also much nicer. He does things on his own terms unless he wants something. He is probably the smartest bird-dude out there. Now he lives a fun life watching YouTube videos of other parrots, sometimes commenting in his radio voice. His other hobby is pooping on my partner. Hansi also still tries to make friends with our conure Keiko but she tells him off by trying to bite his face off. I would never change a thing. Meika's, thank you for the prefect match!
Luna!!! Congo African Grey
Luna’s early life might be a bit of a mystery, but one thing’s for sure: Luna knows how to keep things lively. Her mom first encountered her at Meika’s, and although Luna was quickly adopted by another family, destiny had other plans. She returned, and her bond with her mom was stronger than ever. Without missing a beat, Luna joined her forever flock.
Luna has knack for mimicking household sounds. From the microwave to the fridge alarm, ‘Teams’ notifications, and even the door code, she’s got it all covered. Her mom, dad, and Moose the Basset hound are often left dashing around, only to find they’ve been hilariously tricked. Luna’s repertoire includes burping, making water sounds, blowing raspberries, saying “Hello,” and laughing, ensuring everyone stays on their toes.
But Luna’s antics don’t stop there. Metal cups are her arch-nemesis, especially Dad’s. She loves to puff up and pretend to attack when Dad goes down stairs; Mom comes to the rescue. And when it comes to sports, Luna is a top-notch goalie, stopping everything with the precision of a pro.
Despite her playful nature, Luna’s heart truly belongs to her mom. She cherishes every daily scritch and snuggle, making her the perfect companion for a life full of laughter and love.
Holly - Blue Fronted Amazon
Holly is a Blue-Front Amazon who was surrendered to the Safehouse in Spring 2024, when she was 10 years old. She was pretty unsubtle about choosing me as her "new person" when we first met at Meika's. By the time summer rolled around, I was visiting her at the store at least once a week, and we began to form a tight bond during these visits. When I was finally able to take Holly home in November 2024, she and I were so comfortable with each other that she had very little trouble settling in at our home like she had always been there.
I have kept birds my entire life but never before experienced the amazing relationship with any animal that Holly and I share. She is with me all day as I work from my home office, and I refer to her as “my Velcro assistant and emotional support parrot.” She is incredibly sweet and funny, she enjoys going places with her people, and one of her absolute favourite things in the world to do is to sing or whistle duets with me. I am so grateful to Meika’s Safehouse for helping me to make a perfect match with this beautiful girl!
Peewee!! Congo African Grey
We brought Pee-Wee home March 21, 2025. It was not a long courtship. I had been schmoozing another grey, Ollie, that was being fostered at Meika’s for a couple of months and one day I went in and found out Ollie had been adopted! Well. Now what? My husband volunteered at Meika’s Safehouse and had frequently mentioned that I should meet a certain “super sweet Grey” at the shelter, so he set up an appointment for me to meet Pee-Wee.
It was an instant love match! I visited with him one more time and he came home with me two weeks later.
Having Pee-Wee in our home has been great! He is so sweet, has a large repertoire of sounds, he always makes me laugh, and he has so much love to give (as long as you are not a man and ask him to step up). Of course we are still getting to know each other and each day is a new delightful adventure!
Eleanor - Green Cheek Conure
Close to the beginning of my time working at Meika’s I adopted the sweetest little Conure who had no name. Even though many would call her “President's Choice Bird”, I decided to call her Eleanor. When she came home she was recovering from a leg injury that we later discovered had actually been a broken leg. She hasn’t let that slow her down at all, she just has one slightly shorter leg and the cutest pigeon toes. Everyone in my life fell in love with her; even the ones who were initially scared of birds. Over the past year she has truly become part of my family, revealing all her little quirks, her super intelligence, and she has learned to co-exist with my cockatiel, Dorian. They may even love each other . . . one day. She is the perfect balance of sweet and sass, even though there can be significantly more sass at times. I am so glad that I adopted her when I did, and I am so proud that I get to be her forever home.
BB and Esquilito
In 2022 my sweet Waso died he was my only bird and such a great cockatiel. I had decided to hold off on getting another one. I occasionally did some volunteer work at Meika’s and about 6 months after Waso’s death Janine talked about this one cockatiel and mentioned I should consider fostering this one cockatiel who was extremely overweight and needed some close monitoring. I thought about it for a couple weeks and was encouraged by members of the parrot club to do it that she needed me and she would be perfect for me. Eventually I said yes and brought her home weighing 124 grams (when she was surrendered she weighed 144 grams.) She needed to exercise, fly everyday and only fed pellets. We kept up with the diet regime and exercise. She was progressing nicely. She seemed a little lonely and kept pacing in her cage. Thinking she needed a bird friend I adopted a budgie as companionship for her. They seemed to get along but he’s such a bully, I ended up calling him BB (for Bully Bird). He sure kept her on her toes moving, which helped in her exercise program. In about 4 months or so after being weighed regularly she dropped down to 100 grams!! A great target weight for her. She has maintained that weight for the last two years and weighs between 94 and 100 grams. She has a unique name too “Esquilito”. I love both of them very much they are an intricate part of my life.
Coco - Goffins Cockatoo - 46 years old
We met Coco in the early spring of 2023. My husband was taken by Coco and we would visit him often. He was quiet and would hang out in his cage for the most part. Eventually it got to the point that when Coco would see my husband, he would start looking around the corner for me. We brought Coco home July 31, 2023.
Wow! Coco has turned into one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. With love, nurturing, lots of scritches and playing, he has gone from a pretty much cage bound bird to the life of the party. I am proud of that old bird and the progress he has made and I love him so much! I could go on and on about Coco, so I must stop here before this turns into a novel.