|
 |
 |
| Name: |
Dexter
|
Age: |
Nineteen years old
|
| Gender: |
Male
|
Kind: |
Congo African Grey Parrot
|
| Home: |
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
|
My
Dexter came to live with us eight years ago. His owner passed away and the
female family members were terrified of him because Dexter and the owner(a
man) were very bonded. I worked with Dexter slowly over the next six months.
Using positive reinforcement and love we began to build a wonderful bond. I
noticed over time that Dexter never opened his wings. He never flapped them
or extended them in a stretch. I took him to see an avian vet and he found
that Dexter had chronic scarring under his wings where they joined his body
due to injuries he sustained in his first home. If he extended his wing the
tiniest bit the scar tissue tore and he developed infections. It took two
years to get the resulting ulcers to heal. Poor Dexter lived in a
protection collar to keep him from chewing under his wings. Now he is
completely healed but the scarring has damaged the tissue. We practice
lightly flapping his wings every day for exercise, but Dexter will never be
able to fly.
This has not slowed down my little man though! He climbs everywhere! He is
a true gentleman and enjoys spending time with me. His days are spent out
of his cage on his playstand or on me.
Dexter is very talented in the sound effects category. He does a perfect
smoke detector, microwave beeping, answering machine pick up and hang up.
My favorite is the pop of a soda can and then perfectly orchestrated soda
being poured over ice. He has about a 100 word vocabulary and calls us by
name as well as the dogs. He asks politely for favorite foods. He is such a
silly boy and I love him dearly. I don't know what I would do with out him.
More then anything he is a true gentleman and my very best friend.
|
Talk about today's pet in Pet Talk!
|
|
|
|
