Lost and Found Parrot / Bird Reporting and Alerting Register

On 4/29, my bird Popcorn, an Umbrella cockatoo landed in the Missouri River about 40' from the shore. Due to the "white powder" umbrella's shed, he was bouyant and within seconds was headed downriver. There were several witnesses fishing on the rock jettys along the riverbank which I was running and screaming for their help yet none have stepped forward. I last saw Popcorn floating into an inlet where there were fisherman on the rocks and Popcorn was about 15' from the shoreline as the current was bringing him back in... but I ran into a 12-15' vertical drop on the shoreline that kept me from continuing along the shoreline. I had also run out of my shoes. By the time I reached the point where Popcorn would have come ashore, he was gone, stolen. In fact, there was NOBODY any longer fishing - EVERYBODY was gone...and it was only about 10-15 mins...I had driven downriver thru a farmers field and came up the river from the south. Popcorn is friendly, well-trained male Umbrella Cockatoo. He is approximately 26 years of age - I adopted him 9 years ago. He had been passed through about 5 owners of which I am aware and had at last found his forever home. He is dearly missed. I posted an ad on Craigslist the day/evening this tragedy occurred and have been taunted my someone saying I don't deserve him, I was a coward for not jumping in the river, and so on...garbage. I have had birds for over 20 years now and am a animal lover of all types - however, birds are my passion. I am fairly confident the people who stole Popcorn have limited education on his care, psychological needs etc. otherwise they would realize the negative effects of his being stolen, what it will and could do to him and would have returned him right away. Popcorn has come a long way and I desperately don't want uninformed and heartless people who stole my bird reversing Popcorns progress! Because of their selfishness, he should suffer?? I think not!. There are plenty of homeless and available birds of all breeds available through dozens of rescue sites. But to them, stealing was a more attrractive option? THAT is animal abuse. Please keep your eyes out and help me find Popcorn. I know in my heart he wants to be home where he had at last found safety, security and unconditional love as did I.... I am a veteran on disability with plenty of time to give him the attention, interaction and stimulation, physical and emotional care he needed....please, help me bring him home.

KAREN M LAASS

908-246-6262