On Thursday I had to have our parakeet, Princess, put to sleep. She had been sick since she first fell from her swing in the middle of the night about 4 months ago. She had been fluffed up on her perch for 3 days and wasn't chattering at all. In addition, she just looked miserable. So was I when I was told how much it cost! If you opt for cremation instead of backyard burial, it costs $78 + the cost of euthansia! Since I couldn't find anyone who would pick her up for me...(I SO DO NOT do dead critter retrieval!)...I decided to let them have the honors. In all honesty, it takes everything I have to take the animal to the vet.
Not Princess, but looks just like her!
It's funny. The thing I miss the most is the plaintive little chirp when I covered her up each night.
Poor Princess had a rough life before coming to our house in 2002. She was the prime example of why you read BOTH sides of the animal history at the SPCA. She had been removed from a condemned house. She was always terrifed of people. In fact, the first 2 years we had her she would fall off the perch when someone walked past her cage. I could leave her cage open all day, but she would just hide in the corner in fear. She would get very excited if I was tearing lettuce for a salad though, and if I was late feeding her she would yank on her seed cup until I provided "room service".
On a happier note, I planted a garden yesterday. Now for my friends who raise chickens, veggies and kids all at the SAME TIME, get ready for a big belly laugh!
There they are...aren't they beautiful? If they survive for the next month, I may get to have more in the fall. In fairness, I possess an ebony thumb! I do well with animals, but am death to plants! The only two plants that have ever survived for me are the dish gardens I was given when the kids were born, and they only survived because they don't mind going from soaked to dry as a bone. DJ's even survived being in a warehouse in a moving box for 2.5 weeks!
Feeling blessed, how about you!