About Us
About Birds in the Dog House
Birds in the Dog House specializes in hand raising baby birds with the focus on maximizing the human/avian relationship. Our disease-free aviary partners trust us to love, nurture and socialize their babies straight from the nest box. This relationship ensures that you can confidently purchase one of our birds knowing that the baby has received the best possible care from the day that it leaves the nest until the day it arrives in your home.
We value education first and foremost when placing one of our birds into a new environment. New owner orientation consultations as well as a myriad of “refresher” courses are offered through private Zoom meetings or video conferencing. Consultations are not limited to our clients but are offered to anyone who is thinking about getting a bird or anyone who might just want a “brush-up”. We encourage family sessions not only to educate but to evaluate whether a bird is the right fit for your personal dynamic.
We are proud to announce that we are adding Animal-Assisted Therapy to our portfolio of services in the near future. This hands-on experience is open to anyone who can mentally, emotionally or physically benefit from interacting with our baby birds. This modality is beneficial not only to humans but it is an exceptional form of enrichment for our feathered friends.
Behind the scenes, Nick is working feverishly to create some cool merch for our “flock” to enjoy in the future while Nathanael is attempting to lasso our creative bird brains so that we can focus on offering an innovative selection of exciting new products!
We appreciate your support!
Sincerely,
Amy, Nathanael & Nick
Meet our “Bird Brains”!
Did you Know?
Bird Brain: The origin of “bird brain” dates back to the 1920s or a little earlier when people were under the illusion that birds lacked attention and were flighty due to the small size of their brain. Recent studies have found that a bird has a large number of neurons in their pallium (the part of the brain which supports higher cognitive function).
Have no fear, all of you scattered “bird brains”! This label is now a compliment!
Meet our “Bird Brains”!
Amy
Amy’s love of birds began as a child when she snuck a parakeet into her home and tried to hide it from her “bird phobic” mother! The parakeet lived happily with Amy in a large room over the garage until the bird was discovered by her mother and promptly rehomed to a friend!
Amy has always been intrigued by animal behavior and has dedicated much of her adult life to honing her knowledge through hands-on experience. Amy’s intuitive abilities to “crack the code” with complicated physical and behavioral issues have resulted in her being entrusted with the rehabilitation of emotionally damaged fight dogs to a PTSD-ridden war dog from Afghanistan. Her most recent challenge became personal when she adopted Pogo, a Quaker Parrot born with no feet or elbow joints.
An unexpected hurdle surfaced in the fall of 2023 when Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer. She experienced firsthand the benefits of the animal/ human bond. The roles were now reversed, and the animals became her therapy. She began to hand raise baby birds while going through chemotherapy and rehoming them into loving homes.
Amy, (A.K.A. Mamma Bird) is passionate about Ornithology, responsible bird ownership, avian enrichment and matching the right bird to the right home. Her extensive knowledge of animal behavior coupled with her testament to the healing power of animal therapy inspired her to further her education and become a Certified Animal-Assisted Therapy Specialist. Amy’s forward trajectory includes sharing her love for feathered friends through interactive programs with children, the elderly, handicapped and/or emotionally distressed individuals through Animal-Assisted Therapy.
Amy is happily married to her husband, Doug. Together, they share birds, dogs, and 4 human children!
Amy is the former CEO of Nawty Dawg Big Heart Charities. During that time period, Amy facilitated raising over $200,000 for animals and humans in need.
Amy has a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University. She received her certification in Animal-Assisted Therapy from The College of Science & Humanities at Husson University and is certified as an Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist through the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP). Amy and her 40-year-old cockatoo, Boo, are a registered “complex” therapy team through Pet Partners. Amy is a member of the American Federation of Aviculture, the Pet Bird Association of Virginia and the treasurer and board member of the Peninsula Caged Bird Society in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Nick
Nick has always been passionate about animals and the bond that humans share with their furry, feathered and aquatic friends! His philanthropic heart shines through at his local SPCA where he has volunteered for over 10 years. His love of all God’s creatures dives deep as he is especially intrigued by various aquatic ecosystems and how they impact our lives.
Nick’s “true love” is his beloved dog, Dino.Dino has been his loyal companion for many years. Nick loves to introduce Dino to new friends in hopes of dispelling misnomers and stereotypes often associated with Dino’s breed.
Nick and Dino have an impressive travel resume’ as they have journeyed throughout the country exploring 44 states together!
Dino and Nick both have an affinity for the sea! When not splashing around in the ocean, Nick enjoys the solace that his home aquariums offer. Although nothing compares to the bond that he and Dino share, he finds himself lost in the peaceful mental escape provided by observing his aquatic friends. Though not as interactive as dogs, Nick shares that surprisingly, the fish display their own captivating social interactions and unique daily routines.
Nick’s enthusiasm is palpable when asked about his role at Birds in the Dog House. “We are cultivating a conscientious community with the focus on ethically and responsibly raising baby birds that are not just available for anyone with a credit card. We go above and beyond to make a compatible match between the human and the bird. We want our birds to thrive while complimenting their new owner’s lifestyle and set all involved up to have a long, adventurous, fulfilling life together”.
Nick has an extensive background in corporate branding and marketing and we can not wait to see how his superpowers take flight at Birds in the Dog House! Nick is beyond excited to meld his affinity for animals into this new career path while providing the best of the both worlds to Birds in the Dog House.
Nathanael
Nathanael has been a business owner for 15 years and has worked directly with business owners since 2014. He has started and successfully run numerous businesses and worked with others to solve real world problems that business owners face every day. He founded Ryan Business Group, LLC with his brother Nick Ryan in 2024 as a way to help small businesses full time. He practices a holistic coaching/consulting approach that works on the people in the business as much as he works on the business. He believes that small business is the backbone of America, and he strives to do all he can to help them achieve success.
Nathanael excelled academically and received his Associate’s degree in management at Tidewater Community College, his Bachelor’s in Management at Old Dominion University, and his Master’s in Business Administration with an Innovation Management concentration at Regent University on scholarship with Summa Cum Laude Honors.
Nathanael is most proud of his family and has been happily married to his wife, Angela, since 2018. He is a member of Epic Church of Palm Coast, Florida where he volunteers in the local mission team serving his community of Flagler County, Florida. He has 2 awesome standard poodles, Winston and Phoenix and he enjoys reading and working on business ideas/concepts (who would have thought)! Nathanael is passionate about serving his clients and he takes their success personally.
