- September 18, 2024
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Myakka City residents Lance and Jackie Jaakola live only three miles away from the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory.
Photo by Lesley DwyerThe Sarasota Parrot Conservatory cares for over 70 birds in Myakka City.
Photo by Lesley DwyerGreg Para, founder of the Sarasota Conservatory, has Puppy on his shoulder. He's watching the parrot for a soldier deployed in Iraq for nine months.
Photo by Lesley DwyerTeresa Salinas and Puppy sit together on the porch, where Puppy normally sits with Greg Para while he has his morning coffee.
Photo by Lesley DwyerPasco County resident Raymond Hartfield gets a bullseye in the axe throwing truck.
Photo by Lesley DwyerEast County residents Gus Teixeira and Amy Yount attend Christmas in July at the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory. Yount is the CEO of Step Up Suncoast.
Photo by Lesley DwyerSiesta Key resident Martha Wells takes a selfie with a pig.
Photo by Lesley DwyerEllenton residents Jay Walsh and Bonnie Sewell visit the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory regularly. Sewell's parrot, Tiko, moved in after Hurricane Ian when he didn't settle into their new home and became aggressive.
Photo by Lesley DwyerSarasota resident Luke Johnson gets into a staring contest with a pair of macaws.
Photo by Lesley DwyerSarasota resident Jamir Brown cools off in the pool.
Photo by Lesley DwyerWallace, a warthog, visits Cameron Gomez and Kiana Knuth at the Axe and Bull axe throwing truck.
Photo by Lesley DwyerPalmetto residents Scott and Ariana Trainor first met Wallace the Warthog at an event at Bethany Baptist Church.
Photo by Lesley DwyerJackie Jaakola only lives three miles away from the conservatory, so she's met the animals before.
Photo by Lesley DwyerThe Sarasota Parrot Conservatory hosts a Christmas in July fundraiser to buy new toys for the animals.
Photo by Lesley DwyerA friendly pig passes through the crowd.
Photo by Lesley DwyerCousins Jamir Brown, Reina Riley and Emeri Williams splash around the pool.
Photo by Lesley DwyerPuppy cuddles with her foster dad Greg Para.
Photo by Lesley DwyerParrots aren't the only animals living at the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory.
Photo by Lesley DwyerWallace the warthog enjoys having company over because he gets extra pets.
Photo by Lesley DwyerOnly two more months until Teresa Salinas’ husband, Nick Salinas, returns from a nine-month military deployment in Iraq.
Until then, she’ll continue to drive from Lithia to Myakka City to visit his salmon crested cockatoo at the Sarasota Parrot Conservatory once per week.
“Puppy (the cockatoo) tolerates me,” Salinas said. “She prefers men.”
Salinas normally visits the conservatory to clean Puppy's cage, but she made a special visit July 28 to attend the third annual Christmas in July fundraiser.
Nick Salinas has had Puppy since he was a child, so the cockatoo is at least 40 years old. However, Teresa Salinas had never even touched a bird before meeting her husband five years ago.
“(Nick and Puppy) were incredibly bonded together,” Salinas said. “Greg (Para) will have coffee with her in the morning. Puppy nestles up to him and cuddles.”
Greg Para founded the conservatory, which is based out of his home. He cares for more than 70 birds. Most are rescues, but some are boarded temporarily for members of the military during their deployments.
The Christmas in July fundraiser proceeds went toward the purchase of bird toys.
The vendors included hotdogs and axe throwing. Guests were free to roam the property, interact with the animals and take a swim in the pool. Beyond birds, the conservatory is home to dogs, donkeys, pigs, tortoises and a warthog named Wallace.
