For all of the heartbreaking stories here at Lazicki's Bird House & Rescue in East Hartford, 

           CT, we also have many 'Happy Endings'.... It's what keeps us going. 

 During the spring and summer of this year, we have placed 45 birds into loving homes.

2 B/G Macaws, 1 GW Macaw, 3 CAG's, 2 TAG's, 2 Goffins Too's. 1 Citron Too, 1 U-Too,

   2 M-Too's, 1 Ring Neck Parakeet, 1 Eclectus, 1 Chinese Button Quail, 6 Tiels,

1 White Capped Pionus, 4 Parakeets, 10 Conures, 2 Blue Fronted amazon, 1 Red Fronted Amazon, 2 Senrgals, 1 Parolette and 1 Rosey Bourke.

 

     Timmy is our Happy Ending story for this edition.

Timmy is a Timnah African Grey. He was a wild caught bird which in itself is a heartbreak! He was ripped from either the sky or his nest many years ago only to end up an 'ornament' in someone's plant room. His entire story isn't known to me but what I do know was enough to make me cry. We were called while in the middle of setting up at the Big E. (Eastern States Exposition) and told that this african grey had to be placed into another home. It seems there was no room for him in the very large new home this couple had bought. The bird had traveled cross country with the couple as he had been the young mans bird before they were married. Timmy had stayed several years with the young man's parents who kept him out on a deck while he was at college. They were not bird people!! He sat in his cage with no interaction or stimulation and was fed an unhealthy seed diet and he waited... When his owner finally returned, he got married and Timmy, remained waiting in his cage.  This new home was absolutely beautiful. We were taken through the kitchen, den and living room into a gorgeous plant room. There, centered between the large leafy plants, sat the cage which had been his prison for THIRTEEN long years. Yes, you read that right, this beautiful bird that had once flown free hadn't been out of the cage for all of those years!  His expression was one of hopeless defeat and dispair. There was a large archway but Timmy couldn't see anything from his prison but leaves. The TV could be heard but not seen by him. The couch was also just around the corner and so little Timmy could 'hear' life but not see or be a part of it in any way.  I couldn't wait to get him out of that house of sadness. 

It took months before Timmy trusted me enough to touch my hand with his foot. I would sit by his cage with the door open and my hand resting on his floor singing to him. He loved to dance. Finally he would put one foot in my hand as part of his little dance and then remove it and put the other foot there while he bobbed his head, he was actually doing dance steps. (Timmy loved the Irish Jig) My happiest day with Timmy was when he stepped up with BOTH feet in the palm of my hand and whistled and danced. He finally trusted me.

The perfect home evolved for Timmy and I loved him too much to keep him here. He is hardly EVER in his cage now and has a family that adores him. I miss him terribly but I do get to visit. He's such a happy little birdie and we sing and dance when I visit. TAG's are not known for being great talkers but Timmy has a LOT to say. He truly amazes me. His life was sad for a season but now he is loved by all of us.

Diane Lazicki

PS Timmy still loves the Irish Jig!