Birds Shouldn’t Be Buyer Turnoff

I was appalled to read “Buyer Turnoffs,” (May 28) in which writer Ellen James Martin described a collection of pet birds as “odd or excessive accumulations” to be tossed out, and equating these intelligent creatures with “a huge collection of beer cans.”

Scientific studies have consistently shown that pet birds can be extremely intelligent--rivaling the IQs of chimps and dolphins--and that they are highly emotional and closely bonded with their human companions. They are not objects to be gotten rid of to make a buck.

Moreover, the prospective buyers described in the article, who quickly left a property after finding 10 caged birds in a closed room, were not portrayed as serious buyers.

The article failed to mention that the agent was slipshod in showing the property without warning the prospective buyers of the presence of the birds.

FRANCES LONGMIRE

Los Angeles

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Not only can some pets or collections of pets be a turnoff to the customer, it is far safer for the pet to keep it out of the home during the showing. (I shudder to think what could have happened to that boa constrictor had someone sat on the bed.)

I would like to add one more point for the agent to consider: Is the customer allergic to any pets that are normally kept in the home? Simple cleaning is not enough. When a friend’s roommate who raised pet rats (to which I am allergic) moved out, it was several months before I could enter his home without sneezing, even though it was thoroughly and repeatedly cleaned.

It’s probably best to show such a customer a different home.

KATHRYN SHAPERO

Los Angeles