Special Adoptions

Hello, I Love You!

Sidney, the umbrella cockatoo, was a tough nut to crack. His screeching and biting to get attention had driven his previous owner to distraction. Yet he was also very playful - dancing every time he heard his favorite band Santana. Though she loved him, his person decided he needed someone who could give him more attention.

Enter Rhonda Harris, an interior designer from Littleton, Colorado. She met Sidney when she came to the sanctuary to volunteer. "I saw Sidney and just fell in love. These birds are so intelligent, they have a mind of their own, and are such clowns - they're great! Sidney and I just bonded. The staff here have made me as familiar as possible about his problems and that's ok - we're going to work on them."

Rhonda well understood that birds are a long-term commitment (cockatoos will live around 90 years!). She also has a sun conure (life expectancy 30 years) and a red lored amazon (life expectancy 60 years.) Her family includes a cat and three dogs as well.

Rhonda wrote to us recently with an update. "I can't believe Sidney has been here only two months. He was of one of the family after just a few days. He is a loving, gentle-spirited bird. I call him my 'sleepy puppy' bird. On Thanksgiving he charmed my entire family with his antics and bobbing head."

Rhonda also said that Sidney makes sure she goes to bed on time. "I often fall asleep during the 10 o'clock news. As soon as I snore just once, Mr. Sidney starts to cry 'Waaaa'. It took me two weeks to figure out why he always cried during the news. Then a friend suggested it might be the snoring. Last Sunday Sidney fell asleep while I was reading. The phone rang and a very sleepy Sidney voice came out from under the blanket: 'Hello! Hello, I love you, baby.'

"I am so grateful to have Sidney as part of my family and to all of you for the second chance at happiness that you offered Sidney at Best Friends. He has never attempted to bite or nip and does very little screaming at all. I know the opportunity to become socialized with other birds and people made all the difference. Thanks to all of you and especially to Jodi, who loved Sidney so much."

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