Karen Cheek Justice has a passion for birds — particularly those in bad situations.

She accepts them when their owners surrender them, takes them for a vet checkup, then fosters them out for a month or so for the foster family to assess their health and personalities.

She then tries to place them in homes where they will be well cared for.

Justice has bird foster families spread from Pineville to Huntersville, but she always needs more people willing to share their homes and hearts with a needy bird.

People buy birds without any idea of the time, care, and expense involved. They may take care of the bird for a while but then decide they don’t want it anymore when it starts screaming or exhibiting other normal bird behaviors.

“People will hold a grudge against the birds for doing what they do instinctively,” said bird foster mom and Matthews resident Debbie Foster. “Birds are loud and messy, and that’s what they do. But they can be wonderful companions and very loving.”

That’s how Justice developed her love and compassion for birds. Seven years ago she bought a Congo African Gray parrot. The more she was around Cheeko, the more she realized she had no idea what to do with a bird. So she set out to learn.

Justice took Cheeko to an avian vet for a wellness checkup. She enrolled in classes. She read books. She attended seminars across the country and even abroad. Further details visit here.