Demetri was born on March 1, 2010. I saw Demetri peeking at me from a Pet Supplies Plus window on October 23, 2010. As soon as we made eye contact, we had a connection. I went home to research green-cheeked conures to ensure I was prepared to care for him properly. The next day, my mom and I went back to the store and told a worker that I wanted him. She was very hesitant. "He bites," she said. "He isn't very used to people and has been here a long time." I was determined. He was coming home with me. The worker was so surprised that I still wanted him and relieved that he was finally going home.
I worked with Demetri every day. Yes, he did bite sometimes, but he quickly grew accustomed to his new home and flourished with all the love and attention. He developed a strong bond with my mom and me. Demetri became my best friend. Whenever we were together, he was always on my shoulder, snuggling against my neck and cheek. He loved sitting on the windowsill in the sunshine. He danced often, whether there was music or not. Demetri loved taking baths in the sink and would splash so much that I would also get soaking wet. He also loved to fly, zipping from his cage, around the living room, and landing on top of the hallway door. What Demetri loved most was being cuddled. He wanted to be held all the time, petted, and would give kisses. Friday night would find me on the couch with Demetri, watching TV.
On March 20, 2020, Demetri became ill. I drove to the veterinary hospital while my mom held Demetri. By the time we made the half hour trip, Demetri was gone. The vet did a quick exam and said his heart just gave out. He was buried in my backyard, on a hill overlooking the woods. There is a lot of wildlife that passes through and I like to think he appreciates being in nature with the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer.
The pain of losing him was like having my heart ripped from my body. He was my best little friend and without him it feels like I'm in a whole other world. Green-cheeked conures can live a lot longer than ten years, so I always thought we would have many more years to spend together. I never thought he would leave me so soon. I am thankful for my time with him and will cherish the memories. When he would hear the sound of my car doors locking, he would know I was home and start calling for me. I pray that when it is my time to leave this earth, I will hear him calling for me.
Enjoy soaring the sunny skies of Heaven, Demetri. I will love you always and forever
The Story of Bubba Lutino
Bubba
Bubba
Bubba
Bubba was a quiet little bird when I first received him. He and his son, Beebe, had been given to me due to the original owners no longer being able to take care of both of them. In addition...they had been clearly abused and mistreated. Beebe and Bubba were kept in separate cages, both of which were hardly cleaned. The owners had no experience with birds and simply told me that Beebe was young when they bought him, and Bubba was already rather old. Bubba did not take to his new surroundings right away. He was shocked to realize he could leave his cage at all. He was very filthy, too.
Over time, Bubba got used to his new-found freedom. In the mornings he would wake up to stretch and groom, then sleep through the morning. He would repeat this process, often stopping to eat a lot of food, only to resume the routine. He would sometimes fly around my room, but he was never really good at flying. On Sundays, the day I would clean out his birdcage, I would sit in my floor, and Bubba was content with sitting along with me, either watching whatever was going on with my laptop, or looking up at me. He absolutely loved millet, which he only got on Saturdays. Often I would wake up to him squawking, waiting for me to get his millet. Otherwise, he was a very quiet bird. In the afternoons he would sunbathe at the bottom of the cage, usually falling asleep in the process. He liked to listen to music during this time as well.
It might have been for this reason that he didn't want me to worry about his health. He had started to appear...sickly. He wanted to sleep more, he stayed at the bottom of the cage more...He knew I worried a lot about trivial things, so he never really showed signs of his health. He was a humble and reserved cockatiel. His previous owners had told me that he had been in a lot of houses, never really getting to stay in a permanent, loving home. I believe that he knew that I was different, that he would be loved in my arms. And he was, to his very last moment and continuously thereafter.
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