The Aviary Bird Shop — Local services in Goulds

The most horrific pet experience of my life I had with this business! I took my bird to them for boarding in perfect health. When I went to pick her up a week later, the employee that helped me at first told me that she "was" going to call me because she had noticed for "like 2 days now" that my bird was sick. When I went to get my bird, she was falling over to the point that she was unable to perch. Another employee who was helping me with the checkout, told me to hurry up and run to a vet that she recommended me to and wished me luck. I rushed over to the vet and, unfortunately, she died when I got there.

The following day, I called Patricia Lyon, the owner, and she basically called me a liar. She said that there was no reason for her employee to tell me that she had noticed that my bird was sick for about 2 days because that employee did not work in that area. She even put the employee on the phone who, FLAT OUT, told me that she did not say that to me, at which point, I told her to put the owner back on the phone because I was, absolutely, NOT going to waste my time with someone who is flat out lying to me. I am assuming that the reason why this employee was, obviously, lying was for fear of losing her job, of course. The owner really did not care WHAT the employee told me, she was just chose to not be on my side, since she is smart enough to know that doing so would spell 'trouble' for her.

The only thing that Patricia offered me for my HUGE loss was a bird priced at 1/2 off, which meant, absolutely, no loss to her business and, hopefully, shut me up. That felt like a slap in the face to me. Besides, another bird would not have made up for 20 years of having my loving pet. The best business decision she could have made at the time, given this delicate situation, was to offer me a bird for FREE, which would have meant pennies for her, IF that. I would not have sold myself so cheaply, therefore, I would not have accepted her offer, but she did not know that.

Patricia showed no remorse for my very painful experience at all. All she worried about was defending her employee (actually, her business) and that was it. My being a loyal customer of that business from way back during the previous owners' time, made no difference to her at all.

In conclusion, I cannot, with certainty, say that this business caused whatever killed my pet. They could have, however, avoided it. Their responsibility, as the business that I hired to care for my pet while I was away, was to contact me as soon as they noticed my bird was sick which was, according to their own employee, two days PRIOR to my picking her up. Why that employee did not take it upon herself to call me, I will never know. Had SHE, or ANYONE in that business, called me, I would have done whatever needed to be done for her to have received IMMEDIATE care at that very moment to save her life. Had I left my pet alone at my home for that week, her chances of survival would have been much, much greater than the chances she had at this "boarding" place, thanks to their lack of caregiving.

Needless to say, I have not stepped foot in that business again and never plan to either. They do not deserve my business and, frankly, I do not think that they deserve to be open FOR business. Anyone that I come across that I know owns a bird, I always ask them where they go for bird supplies and boarding and I make sure to warn them about my devastating experience with this business. I, CERTAINLY, do NOT want anyone else going through the same...

I brought my bird here to get her nails clipped and l left the store with my bird lifeless. I’ve taken her to Simbads and never here. Although hindsight is 20/20, it is a big regret that I brought Casper to this store because not only that I lost my pet bird but I lost my companion, my buddy.

They said that the stress from holding the bird with a towel caused Casper to have a heart attack. That this happens all the time. Though, what did they do differently that took her life away when I’ve been going to Simbads in Gables, and leaving the store with the bird still alive? My point is, Casper has been going to Simbads for clippings, ever since we got her. We got her a year and 8 months ago. She’s basically still a baby. Still learning words. And to be told that it’s normal to have your bird get a routine “hair cut” and be dead after. Wow...

What’s worse? They said Casper just passed out when the old lady with short blond hair was holding her neck sideways with Casper’s body facing the other way. She said she “passed out the bad way” I was looking at my brother confused and when we looked at Casper she was lifeless. They barely even tried to revive her. They were firm that she’s gone. Didn’t give us a place to bring her to an AV vet. NOTHING.

So then, my brother and I took Casper and went to a nearest animal clinic. The nearest one was 2 miles away, I performed CPR on Casper while my brother hurries to go to the clinic just to find out that they only neuters. We asked them where to go when we got there and they gave us the address there. Unfortunately, we were too late.

When we went back to this store to get some closure on what happened to my bird they screamed over us, telling us that it’s absolutely normal to have your bird die because of a routine “hair cut” the owner Patricia Lyon yells over my mom and when I knew it was getting out of hand I pulled out my phone and that’s when she started to lay her hands on us. Pushing us,slapping and grabbing my phone. I almost dropped my bird on the floor because of this 6 foot tall OWNER was busy assaulting me and my mom. Eventually when we starting telling her to stop assaulting us and it’s not right, she pushes us out to the door telling my mom who speaks proper English to “speak English” and that we are here “illegally”.

If you guys love your precious pet birds, please bring them else where. I’d hate to have another person who loves and care about their bird be hurt and feel the loss we are...

My experience with The Aviary over the past 27 years since we got our cockatiel, has been nothing less than wonderful. The people combined with the selection of birds, supplies and the picturesque location makes this place the most unique and special bird shop in Miami. They don't just sell you a bird. The staff, especially the owner Patricia and her daughter Jen, have a wealth of knowledge and will guide how to care for your bird.

Over the past 27 years we boarded our cockatiel at The Aviary during travels and he was never stressed, so we were never stressed. While traveling, whenever we called Patricia or the staff willingly provided updates.

Recently The Aviary exceeded all expectaions. We needed to move out of our house for a few days so I took our baby to The Aviary for boarding.  On the second day Joann informed me that he needed to go to the vet as his food was not digesting. I took him to the vet who helped flush his crop but he was not doing well. We were not sure he would survive.

We still did not have access to our home, but the Aviary reassured us that they will continue to care for him even though he needed so much more care. Jen went the extra mile and made a crop bra to help support his stretched crop. She tried different foods, meds, hand fed him and monitored his condition 7 days a week to ensure his condition was improving. Jen and the rest of the staff cared for him until he was stable. *How many people do you think would go to such great lengths to help your pet, your baby? It takes a truly kind and special heart. We are grateful to all of the staff but Jen is amazing, it's not a job for her it's a love and a calling. *

Today we brought our cockatiel home and Jen promptly reached out to find out how he is doing.  Again, it's the people that make this place what it is and I can't thank them all enough for touching our lives by caring for our 27 year old bird and not resigning to let him die because he's old and "lived a good life" they helped him and he is happily home...