- Report: #525652
Complaint Review: Uncle Sandy's Macaw Bird Park - Pensacola Florida
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Author Not Confirmed
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Uncle Sandy's Macaw Bird Park
9513 N Palafox Street Pensacola, 32534 Florida, United States of America
Phone:
8504786421
Web:
www.macawbirdpark.com
Categories:
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Uncle Sandy's Macaw Bird Park Sandy Carl Kirkconnell I was Abused, cheated, lied to and all I did was volunteer a year of my life to help further his cause, or so I thought! Pensacola, Florida
My story began a little over a year ago when I met an older man who seemed to have a love for birds. He had opened his property to be used as what I thought was a type of bird sanctuary and rescue. He shared with me how he could no longer keep the place going on his own so I decided to volunteer to run the facility. I spent 60-70 hours a week free of charge rebuilding, recruiting volunteers and donations as well as feeding and caring for the almost 40 birds he had at the time.
As the months went on I got a few steady weekend volunteers and we all became friends. He was a grouchy man with a very foul mouth but we did our best to ignore most of it for the good of the birds. But as things progressed he became more verbally and mentally abusive running off many of the volunteers. He would even curse and yell at young teenagers who were volunteering calling them sorry and lazy with a few other colorful words added in. This became a normal reaction when someone did not know or understand exactly what or how to do what he asked of them. As I began to see his true colors my concern became for the birds, I felt I had to stay so at least I would know they were cared for properly. Many of the birds that had come into the park were because I promised their owners that I would care for them and love them. Our numbers had grown to almost 100 birds and I owed them my time and love regardless of what I was being subjected to.
He then decided we should become a Limited Liability Company so we did. He was listed as manager while myself and two other ladies were listed as managing members. As this progressed I could see His lack of concern for the birds best interest being taken over by what was in his best interested. We were told things like tell people what they want to hear so you can get their bird he would lie to them to gain their trust and obtain their bird. He also began separating bonded birds for display purposes even when he was told they had both stopped eating his reply was oh well, theyll get over it! I became appalled by his desire to make a buck rather than do what was best for the birds. I joined this as a rescue and sanctuary while he began telling us we are not in the bird business, we are in the entertainment business!
In August of 2009 he announced that he was going to be leaving the park to me and that he was no longer going to be involved. He does own the property that the park sits on but he agreed that as long as we kept it running as a bird park we could stay on the property. After this things seemed good for a few weeks and then he became very abusive and always yelling and cursing at me even in front of other people. By late September things had escalated to the point that during a conversation with one of the LLC members, who also volunteered to be our book keeper. He began yelling and cursing just inches from her face when she questioned him about paying people under the table when we were suppose to be an ALL VOLUNTEER Run facility! He then demanded she leave the property and never come back. Two days later he came to me like nothing had happened and wanted me to be the PR person and he would go back to running the park. My only request was that when he disagreed with me that he waits to talk to me until he could discuss it with me and not yell and curse. He paused and then said well I guess you better leave because I will talk to anybody anyway I want to and if they dont xxxxxxx like it that is too xxx xxxx bad! Although he claims I left on my own as you can see he left me with no other choice.
I come to you asking for help not only for myself but for these birds that so many people trustingly placed in my care. I am not adding this for sympathy but just to make one final point. I have a terminal illness that I live with everyday and the main reason I worked so hard for the park was that I wanted to leave this life feeling like I had done something that mattered, something that my two children would be proud of. I wanted them to be able to remember all the hours we spent there together taking care of the birds and what a wonderful experience it was for us all. And now I am angry that despite all the happy times we had there this man has made things so ugly (even in front of my children) that this will no longer be an experience they can look back on when I am gone and smile about.
Please help me to save the birds and to protect the good names of myself and the two other wonderful women who volunteered so much. We dont have the funds for an attorney yet we need legal help so that this man doesnt do more damage as we are on the LLC and liable for the decisions he is making while we are prohibited from stepping foot on the property! May God Bless You All, Thank You!
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Nathanieljs
New York,New York,
USA
A Nice Place
#2Consumer Comment
Fri, November 27, 2015
It seems, looking at these reports, that someone was offended by a rude old man in ailing health. I know nothing about that, but regardless, I can tell you one thing: The Macaw Park, as it is today, is a lovely place. Happy birds, nice people who really know and care about them, and a decent amount of space all make this so. So old grudges against the now deceased nonwithstanding, I say that the macaw park is successfully fulfilling its goal to help birds and educate the public, and I wholeheartedly recomend going there.
R. E. Robidas
Pensacola,Florida,
Elanation of complaint
#3UPDATE Employee ..inside information
Wed, October 16, 2013
I am the webmaster and administrator for the new web site www.macawbirdpark.org and also work with the Board of Directors of Uncle Sandy's Macaw Bird Park.
Since the death of Sandy Carl Kirkonnell, the park has continued in operation thanks to the efforts of Bill Schnitker (also on the Board of Directors) who has taken over operations at the last request of Sandy.
The organization is now a registered 501(c)(3) non profit and is currently trying to keep the park open to the public.
Since talking to the Board and other volunteers, the person who first filed the "abuse" report was shall we say, not performing their duties and questions regarding financial activity had arose so they were asked to leave. It is for those reasons the original posting was in no doubt made. Also the park shows no records of being estblished as a LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) and if it were, there would be on file a list of the Corporation by-laws, Board of Directors etc etc.
I assure all that there is no abuse nor neglect to any of the birds residing in the park and people still visit daily.
Granted, Mr. Kirkonnell may have been gruff or perhaps a bit tempered it was in all probability due to his deteriating health and the knowledge that he would need to find someone dependable to take over this operation.
Austen V.
Navarre,Florida,
United States of America
From a volunteer's point of view
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, January 31, 2010
Hello,
I would just like to say that I volunteered a very long time at this
park for not only the sake of the birds, but because I had wanted to
get a bird and wanted some kind of experience before purchasing one.
The man who runs this park, Carl Kirkconnell, is an angry, violent
excuse for a human, and I personally believe that he should be put be
put in jail for some of the things I witnessed him say. When, and if, you ever go to this park, and he
manages to hobble out of his sorry excuse for a home, he will probably
yell a myriad of profane dialogue at you, and then tell you to get off
of his property. He is troubled, I believe. As a piece of advice for
parents who would like to take their children to this park, don't for
the sake, safety, and welfare of your children. Carl Kirkonnell is a
dangerous man.
*KATHERINE*
First off, posting an illiterate 'defense', so to say, for the park
makes you seem even more reliable, not to mention that many of the
things you say are fraudulent. I don't know who you are, but I can
definitely say that I came to volunteer at the park with only good
intentions, and Carl Kirkonnell, owner, always seemed to be neurotic in
many senses, frequently ranting in front of minors-- which is a
crime. As for your claim that people who post negative statements about
the park as slander, you are wrong. Nobody, unless excessive profanity
and threats are made, can be persued for slander. And you can only be persued for slander, not sued for slander. I hope that you find another outlet for all of the anger you have for innocent volunteers that all along have just wanted to help the birds.
Austen V.
Navarre,Florida,
United States of America
Austen Villacis (volunteer)
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sun, January 31, 2010
Hello,
I would just like to say that I volunteered a very long time at this
park for not only the sake of the birds, but because I had wanted to
get a bird and wanted some kind of experience before purchasing one.
The man who runs this park, Carl Kirkconnell, is an angry, violent
excuse for a human, and I personally believe that he should be put be
put in jail for some of the things I witnessed him say. When, and if, you ever go to this park, and he
manages to hobble out of his sorry excuse for a home, he will probably
yell a myriad of profane dialogue at you, and then tell you to get off
of his property. He is troubled, I believe. As a piece of advice for
parents who would like to take their children to this park, don't for
the sake, safety, and welfare of your children. Carl Kirkonnell is a
dangerous man.
*KATHERINE* First off, posting an illiterate 'defense', so to say, for the park makes you seem even more reliable, not to mention that many of the things you say are fraudulent. I don't know who you are, but I can definitely say that I came to volunteer at the park with only good intentions, and Carl Kirkonnell, owner, always seemed to be neurotic in many senses, frequently ranting in front of minors-- which is a crime. As for your claim that people who post negative satements about the park as slander, you are wrong. Nobody, unless excessive profanity and threats are made, can be persued for slander. And you can only be persued for slander, not sued for slander. I hope that you find another outlet for all of the anger you have for innocent volunteers that all along have just wanted to help the birds.
bdblondegirl
United States of Americabird park
#6General Comment
Sun, January 17, 2010
Me and my two children just went out to the park not to long ago and it was great, the employees were very nice and our tour was excellent we even went in the aviary and fed the macaws by hand. This was our second trip out to see the birds as we came last summer.The only thing that threw me off is that some of the birds from before were missing, which was sad because one of them was my son's favorite. The park is a wonderful place and I encourage everyone to take their children out to experience these beautiful birds.
katherine
United States of Americathe macaw park is fine NOW
#7UPDATE Employee
Fri, December 04, 2009
it's a petty, childish thing to post this ad of yours.... since you quit the park, because u were mad... i would yell at u too if you told me to get out of my office... and spend thoudands of dollars on junk, you brought the park down so far, with your reckless spending, there was no money in the bank, when i took over your spot... you told me NO volunteer gets paid for anything there, yet you wrote your self checks... you nickled and dimed the company to death, with your reckless spending habits... all the volunteers that left when you ran them off... they came back once they heard U were gone... the owner has not raised his voice or said anything bad to me.. i am running it like he wants it run, and he is happy...everything i purchase for the park is a donation from me..i don't ask to get my money back...remember when you told me , he wasn't dieing fast enough for you.... you wanted to own the park so much that you told people you did... lets not forget;; you took some 20 birds and 20 cages with you when you quit, one of which, you were told you couldn't have... and then you let one of them fly away, did you ever find it??? or will it die in the winter..the bird i paid the vet bill for was supposed to go back to the park, not to live at your house... so u owe me for that bill.. if i had known you were going to take it home and keep it, you should have paid that bill yourself.. if you continue to bash the park, we make copies of all your posts everywhere, you will be sued for slander...
