(I posted this on the missing pet area, but I was told that I should consider posting it here as well.)


My pet parakeet, Baby, accidentally got loose yesterday afternoon. I trusted another family member with his care at that particular hour and he got loose. He was so happy to be free for the first hour or two. He kept calling to me and bobbing his head in excitement, telling me he loved me and calling me baby as usual. But then other birds started picking on him, he became panicked and we lost sight of him for the night. I spent a long anguished night and today doing everything I could to recover him but to no avail. Yesterday I almost touched him. Early this morning, I heard him calling to me - like he does when he wants to be rescued or is fearful of something, but I could not find him and see him and now I can not hear him at all. I think he was trying to get to me, but got confused and went the wrong direction.

He is the one bright spot in my life now. Or was. I let myself love something again and he is lost. I have had a very abusive life growing up and I lost everything in Hurricane Katrina and yet I am still here. He was the one bright spot left in my life. I owed it to him to protect him from the world. He is so very innocent and defenseless. All he knew was kisses, cuddling and being hand fed. He was very smart, but the sweetest bird. Most of the time he didn't even think he was a bird. He was so much more. I fear he will starve to death soon. It is killing me - imagining hour upon hour that he is being abused by other birds, he is hungry and thirsty and scared. I know he is going to die alone, hungry and scared. It hurst so very much. I was supposed to protect him. He loved me and was always so loving. We cuddled every day, he loved to give kisses and tell me he loved me. What does he get in return for this? He gets to suffer an agonizing death.

I can't eat or sleep or do anything, because I know he is not eating or sleeping. I can't do anything but imagine what is happening to him. I have had many pets of all species, but he has truly - to my surprise, been the most beloved and cherished.

If I had lost him in some other way - such as giving him a new home or him dying of old age, or dying in my hand without suffering --- all of that I could come to bear. But his slow suffering and lonely death is going to haunt me forever.

I don't know how to deal with forever knowing that he died suffering, without me to hold him. I would rather die. I would rather suffer, than an innocent creature who knew nothing but to love.

I never knew a bird to be so special as he. So much more than just a bird. And now I can not feel anything but pain.

My heart goes out to you. It is such an awful feeling, not knowing. I pray your baby finds its way back to you. Know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Nina

We're all praying for the return of your baby to you....

Pepe's Daddy

I've heard, and actually it worked for me once, to put his cage on a white sheet in the middle of your yard, or the place where you last saw him. He may just be looking for something familiar, and the outside world must be very strange and scary to him. If he sees the place where he was sheltered and had food, he may associate it with seeing his cage again.

I do hope Baby comes back soon. I had a parakeet and ##atiel once, and they have such distinct personalities. My thoughts are with you both and I hope so very much that you will find each other again soon. Take care and good luck - Barbara

I would also suggest getting yourself a "butterfly" net & going round the area calling for him with some treats so that he might come within range of you if he hears your voice. Leave out food in your garden for him. You don't say if it's hot or cold where you live but if it's hot then he should be O.K. There are parrots living wild in London now & they survive all year. Also, are there any rescue centres nearby there he might have been handed in? If he's tame someone else might have taken him in, so put up posters in pet shops & on posts around your neigbourhood, & ask all the neighbours to watch out for him, & call you if they spot him.
I hope by now he's back home, but if not don't give up hope yet.

UPDATE-

My baby was found last night and miraculously returned to me. It is so rare that a parakeet missing for days no less, is ever returned home. Larger parrots are more likely, but not tiny parakeets. Baby is very ill. I am trying to nurse him back to health and am trying to hope for the best. There is no vet/animal hospital anywhere around that will accept birds, except one - but it is not a hospital. I must wait until Weds to take him. He is trying to eat, so I am hoping for the best this time. Just knowing that he is safe and warm, no matter the outcome is so much easier to bear. I have lost beloved pets before and it is always so very hard, but they all died of old age or an accident and died with me caring for them. But - I am thinking positive, and hoping that Baby will be just fine.

Furry's Mom, Pepe's daddy, Nyna22000 & 5catsmom, Lisa (& Max ----
I wanted to thank you all so very much, from the bottom of my heart. I will not forget your kindness and kind words.

I will come back from time to time and try and offer kindness and sympathy to others as you have done for me - and I will update on Baby's health when I know for sure if he is going to make it or not.

Thank you again.
Love,
Janine

Coming here was the best thing you could have ever done.....you had so many people praying for his safe return....

I am so happy that the two of you have been reunited!

You are absolutely right. I am amazed by these caring people.

And thank you.

I am so happy for you. The not knowing is the worst feeling in the world.
I am praying for a speedy full recovery. Nina

I'm so grateful to read that your baby bird found his way home safely. My prayers that he regains strength. I've had cancer before and my cat brought me through the treatment. My oncologist said that pets are God's angels and help her patients heal. Your bird can help you heal from all the trauma that you've been through.