In the last months of 2001, two separate people reported Robinn Nollet, of NEEBS to the MSPCA for the mistreatment of approximately 200 exotic birds that she kept in her home.  What both persons had seen at her home were approximately 150 parrots living in cages that were encrusted with filth. Both of these people had offered to help Robinn clean up NEEBS. Robinn indicated that she was being pressed by the MSPCA to improve the birds’ housing conditions. Someone had previously reported the situation to the MSPCA. The cages and floor were crawling with insects, and heavy cob webs laden with dust were hanging from the ceilings. Blankets and sheets covered the windows and kept out the light.   In the "quarantine" area, which was an open
bathroom which anybody could and did walk into, were two cages stacked on top
of each other.  The bottom of one was covered in urine and feces. Many of the
birds were kept in padlocked cages. Approximately 60 other birds, smaller species such as zebra finches and cockatiels, were flying freely in a separate room. A well known Massachusetts veterinarian with a special interest in avian medicine had seen some of Robinn's birds previous to this investigation . This veterinarian had euthanized several of Robin’s birds due to severe complications from Psittacosis. This veterinarian refused to continue to see any more of Robinn's birds because of the dire circumstances surrounding the NEEBS birds. That same veterinarian indicated that she believed Robinn Nollet is a "hoarder." (Read our bird of the month article about hoarding here)

The MSPCA granted Robinn time to clean up her home, and they followed up several times.  The MSPCA had no legal authority to do anything except exert moral pressure on Robinn. Robinn was required to take the blankets off of the windows and install lights in the rooms where the birds were housed.  According to a witness who was a volunteer for NEEBS at the time, once the MSPCA investigators left, the lights were removed and the blankets and sheets were put back over the windows. Two veterinarians were brought in to evaluate the birds though neither of them had a special interest in avian medicine. They did not require that any of the birds have laboratory testing performed. In spite of the fact that the MSPCA suspected that Robinn had temporarily removed approximately 50 birds during their inspection, those two veterinarians allowed her to continue operation of her "sanctuary."  Lynne Bodon, a wildlife rehabilitator, had been approached by Robinn,
and Robinn asked if she would just keep a couple of birds while the MSPCA was inspecting the NEEBS.  Lynn refused, but someone did take in those birds temporarily.  When Roy Sutton, one of MSPCA officers was told that this had happened, he said that he was aware of it.  Before the MSPCA visits, many birds had taken out and given to others to
hold temporarily.   One of the whistleblowers was told that Carter Luke, a Vice President of the MSPCA knew that Robinn was taking birds to other places.  He even
ventured a guess as to who was taking care of the birds. The MSPCA was urged to rescue
these birds, and the complainants tried to explain the amount of physical damage that was being inflicted on the birds. Mr. Luke said that he had several agencies
working on the problem, but that he couldn't discuss the situation in its entirety. They should rest assured that the MSPCA was doing everything possible to improve the birds’ plight. When contacted, the head veterinarian at the Bureau of Animal Health told the complainants that laboratory testing was very costly and unless there were complaints of present disease, he could legally do nothing more.

The graphic pictures of the birds’ conditions (link to pictures) were taken by a volunteer who was working at NEEBS in November 2003.  The MSPCA was again notified after these photos were taken and until recently, nothing had been done.  The county Board of Health was contacted by concerned persons and in the last week of October 2004, the BOH declared that Robinn's house was unfit for human habitation.  Robinn did not allow pictures to be taken of the NEEBS birds.

Affidavits attesting to the truth of the conditions in which these birds are held are on file with the District Attorney's office.