We all have our own personal interests and hobbies and that passion for Mark Carr, Funeral Director at Maunders Funeral Service in Paignton, is parrots.
Mark has been keeping parrots as pets for the last 10 years and is also an active supporter of nationwide charity Birdline Parrot Rescue. He fosters birds in need until they can find a new home and, in addition, volunteers to help at events and shows across the UK to raise awareness.
Most recently Mark attended the Stowford Farm Open Weekend in North Devon on the 16/17 September, to help raise the profile of Birdline Parrot Rescue and inform people of what it takes to own and care for a parrot.
Such is Mark’s love for the brightly coloured birds that he ended up keeping 11 parrots as his own – after fostering them originally – and he often takes them out and about in the local community to visit residents in the Pendennis Residential Care Home in Paignton and at the Purple Angel Memory Cafe in Torquay.
Mark said: “The residents really enjoy meeting, holding and learning about the parrots and it has helped Maunders to forge stronger connections with local community groups.”
Manager at the Pendennis Residential Care Home, Sam Ebden, said: “Many of our residents have some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s and we find that animals help to break down barriers and increase wellbeing.
“Some of our residents don’t speak but upon meeting Mark’s parrots they recognise the animal and say its name.
“The birds definitely help to lift spirits and their tricks and funny personalities certainly bring a smile to our resident’s faces and make them laugh.”
Mark added: “It is nice to know that my parrots can feature in my role as a Funeral Director and provide the benefit of animal therapy to local people.”