NewsLocal NewsCharlotte County

Actions

$20k reward offered after more than 2 dozen exotic birds stolen

parrot8.jpeg
parrot14.jpeg
parrot4.jpeg
parrot17.jpeg
parrot7.jpeg
parrot20.jpeg
parrot6.jpeg
parrot16.jpeg
parrot11.jpeg
parrot1.jpeg
parrot10.jpeg
parrot18.jpeg
parrot19.jpeg
parrot9.jpeg
parrot15.jpeg
parrot5.jpeg
parrot2.jpeg
parrot12.jpeg
parrot3.jpeg
Posted
and last updated

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — A Charlotte County nonprofit has suffered the loss of more than two dozen parrots that were in their care. They are now offering a $20,000 reward for the safe recovery of the animals.

Officials with the Parrot Outreach Society said that their facility on Elizabeth Street in Punta Gorda was broken into around 3 a.m. Tuesday.

They reported 28 birds had been stolen, with breeds including cockatoos, Amazons, and conures.

"We are absolutely devastated and are asking all our followers to be on the lookout for our babies," the organization said in a Facebook post. "We ask all breeders to be on the lookout. These birds mean the world to all of our volunteers, and we are all heartbroken."

Tears were evident on the faces of volunteers who stopped by to help clean up and take stock of the building.

"We care for these birds so much," said volunteer Isabella Grelik-Ammouri. "It's what I look forward to doing at the end of the week. We all care; we all want them back."

The Parrot Outreach Society is a welfare and conservation education organization that adopts the birds to Florida residents following an application and screening process.

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking tips on this incident; you can leave anonymous tips by phoning 1-800-780-8477 or by using the P3 Tips mobile app. You may be eligible for a cash reward for information leading to an arrest of a suspect and/or recovery of the birds.