Entrant's First Name
Angela

Animal Bio
Ckoockie wasn't an ordinary bird! In fact, he thought he was human! Being able to say his name we taught him the first week we brought him home at 6-8 weeks of age, was a sign of things to come. He loved to shower with me and would spread his wings out receiving the water and rubbing his little head beneath his wings while on my shoulder, take adventures throughout our home in places we didn't find him in for hours like inside cupboards, drawers, closets and hide in a light bridge above our bed set. When he knew he shouldn't be doing something we would scold him for, like chewing the covers of new books, he would repeat the scold back to us in the same pitch! Ckoockie! Ckoockie! That was the sign to us to check out what he was doing. He loved to be loved and loved us back unconditionally! He was our constant companion and displayed ownership of us! He even protected us one time by flying by and divebombing a person, with his wings and little body, when this person was saying negative things to us! He actually understood what was going on at that moment and took action in our defence! We were so surprised at this attack mode (don't worry, the person wasn't hurt but did take precaution when speaking again). He really was cerebral - more of a thinking bird - and proved it several times by analyzing situations before he took action when wanting to get into things that were challenging! He had a good vocabulary and was a social pet wanting to be a part of everything we did, especially sharing our meals! Going around the dish, he would sample foods but loved peanut butter, toast, eggs, pizza and corn chips - even roast beef, which he got sick on after eating too much of it while we were away one day and discovered he tore through the cellophane wrapping that was on it! What a tinker! He also had the opportunity to travel across Canada three times with us when we moved from Ontario to B.C., back to Ontario then returned to B.C. for good. He grew more and more endearing to us over the years, ever since my husband presented him to me as a gift on July 3rd 1974 and definitely was an integral member of our family! He was always healthy and happy but didn't take it well when I was away from him for a couple of months taking care of personal business in Ontario. Upon my return, I noticed he wouldn't respond to my affection but turn his back to me. I let it go on for two days but became concerned so took him to see a local avian Veterinarian, Dr. Anne McDonald, who is awesome and she diagnosed him as being severely dehydrated! He apparently didn't eat or drink properly during my absence and I felt so badly never to be apart from him again! The Dr. treated him well and he recovered but it took a long while before he was back to his "normal" (if you can call it that) self again! The Doc said he was her oldest Cockatiel patient and was proud of that fact! Alas, during the latter part of his precious life, a little tumour appeared near the preen gland, which was operated on successfully by the Vet and her U.S. Associate. He grew older and slowed down but all the while still expressing his love toward us and being a faithful companion! What a trooper! One Saturday morning, I visited the office to finish up some work voluntarily and told my beloved Ckoockie I'd be home soon. In hindsight, never should have left that day. When I opened the door to our suite, a warm gust of wind hit my face (I've never experienced this kind of thing before) and I spoke out saying "Boy, it's really a warm day today isn't it Ckoockie?" as I looked in the hallway mirror to view his house with him in it seeking a response of a cheep or something. As I turned the corner, to my shock, his little body was what looked like to be in a flight mode with his right wing stretched out on a padded bumper I made for him for protection going all around the inside of his house. I called out his name "Ckoockie" and realized he has passed away. That warm breezy gust of wind was his spirit meeting me at the door - he waited for me to come home! With many, many, many tears, I held him in my hands and wouldn't let him go for 8 straight hours! I immediately called my husband at work (where he shouldn't have been that day either only by a fluke) and he too began to cry and cursed being at work. Then to contact my Vet, Dr. McDonald who consoled me and said to spend this time with Ckoockie as he would have liked. Our hearts broke! After deciding to bury him in a beautiful box at a nearby park, I took him away from there after discovering the markers I set up were removed. We then decided to cremate him and he is with us to this day! This photo and another like it stands behind the ceramic urn that holds our precious one's ashes. We honour our Ckoockie and the 32 wonderful years he shared with us! Yes 32 years! It's an anomaly as the first Cockatiel book said they can live up to 15 years, a newer book stated up to 20-25 years. I knew in my heart he would live longer....and he did! We still love and miss him a lot! Will see him in heaven! Thanks for letting us share our hearts with you. Thank you BC SPCA for all your untiring work on behalf of the speechless animals in our world!!! God bless you!!