A week or so ago, one of our neighbors had to go to the hospital, and she asked if we could watch her 2 dogs and her African Grey Parrot. Of course we said yes. I say of course, because we had no idea what kind of stress comes along with an African Grey Parrot with a severe anxiety disorder that makes her pluck her own feathers.
“Did someone ask for a feather?”
We had to bring everyone over to the apartment in shifts. First the two dogs: George and Zoe. George is a small white Havanese (supposedly) with a very big head and an even bigger personality. He likes to wave his front paws in the air to demand attention. His older sister, Zoe, is a black and white Poodle mix, with a very long back and very short legs (maybe part Dachshund). She is a bit more reserved than her brother, with deep, soulful eyes, but she loves to go for long walks and tries to zoom around the corner to prevent me from turning back. Her only problem is that she has skin issues, possibly caused by food allergies, so she is on a severe diet of tasteless canned food (I didn’t taste it; I googled it). We can’t leave any of Cricket’s kibble out on the floor because then Zoe will eat it, so they all have to eat the tasteless canned food. None of the dogs approves of Zoe’s diet, needless to say.
“We’re exhausted.”
“I’m starving.”
We also discovered that if we tried to feed Zoe and George at the same time, in the same place, George would eat all of the food. George is small, but mighty. So now we warm up the wet food and call Zoe into the kitchen and feed her by hand until she’s not hungry anymore. Miss Cricket takes her treats under her couch, to eat in peace, but she’s still suffering because George comes over and stares at her, and growls at her, looking for any way to steal those treats. The only explanation I can find for the amount of food George eats, versus his slim build, is poop. He makes a lot of poop.
After George and Zoe were settled in, we had to bring over a big box of wee wee pads (they are trained to pee and poop indoors, because their Mom hasn’t been up to taking them for regular walks), and cans of dog food, and a bag full of food and treats for the parrot. And then I went over to pick up Izzy, the African Grey. She was in her travel cage, with a fuzzy blue blanket covering the cage to keep her warm during the two minutes she had to spend outside.
It took Cricket quite a while to get over the shock of the invasion (she’s not over it at all), especially because George decided that he had to mark the apartment as his own, with tiny puddles of pee everywhere, which meant that the humans were following him around with paper towels and cleaning spray at all hours.
“When are they leaving?”
But Izzy was clearly the biggest source of drama. She likes to answer the phone whenever it rings, from across the room, “Hello?” And then she cries out, “Mommy!” and goes off on a rant, repeating whole conversations, in male and female voices. Unfortunately, most of the words are garbled, so I have no idea what illicit dramas she has been trying to share with us. Her more clear monologues include things like “Are you a good girl?” “Do you want a carrot or a cookie?” “Do you want some water?” She is an incredible mimic, and she discovered that if she mimicked a smoke alarm, first thing in the morning, she could wake up the humans to refill her food bowl. She loves her frozen peas, and millet, and multicolored alphabet-shaped thingies, and carrots. We tried to please her, endlessly, but she never seemed to warm up to us. She shivered with anxiety, and tried to bite us when we gave her more food. She even turned over her water bowl (heavy ceramic) so that it poured over the dining room table, where her cage was sitting, on towels.
“I’m just hanging upside down in my cage. Nothing to see here.”
We sent her home after five days, because her mother was back home, and because we thought Izzy would be happier back in her full cage, where she could stretch out. But, really, that was one loud bird. I felt guilty that we weren’t able to solve all of Izzy’s psychological problems during her visit, though. I always feel like I should be able to solve everyone’s problems, and if I can’t then I’m clearly not trying hard enough. I’m going to have to work on this particular delusion before I become a professional social worker.
Our neighbor asked if we could take Izzy back, in case she has to go back to the hospital, but I said no. We can’t even fit her full cage in the apartment, nor do we want to. But then the guilt was delivered: if we don’t take Izzy then our neighbor’s son will send the bird to a sanctuary. My answer to that is, good for Izzy. She could use experts looking after her and figuring out why she’s pulling out her feathers, before she has no feathers left.
We took the two dogs over to see their Mom, too, and they were excited and happy and gave her a full on lovefest, but their Mom wasn’t up to taking care of them yet, so we took them back to our apartment, and they spent the next few hours crying (Zoe) and moping (George). I don’t blame them. I’d want to be in my own home too.
“I’ll be okay. Maybe.”
But it’s been nice to have a full house for a while, and to get to know two very different personalities. George barks when he sees other dogs on TV, and Zoe has these endearing grumpy noises that she makes when she wants something and can’t have it (my food); George has this adorable upside down sleeping pose, with his head turned in one direction and his legs pulling in the other direction;
and George and Zoe have these elaborate play fights that look like a doggy Tango.
“Would you like to dance?”
“Why yes, I would.”
Zoe and George know how to use Butterfly’s doggy steps up to my bed (Butterfly only knew how to use them going down), so they started to go up there even when I wasn’t in the room. Cricket is not happy that George and Zoe have taken ownership of my bed. She either avoids my room entirely, crawls under the bed, or sits on my chest to make it clear to the interlopers which dogs owns the humans.
We take all three dogs out four times a day, for longer than Cricket’s usual walks, because we want to tire them out before bringing them back into the crucible of apartment living. Walking with three leashes at a time is more complex choreography than I have been able to master so far, what with George needing to stop and pee every few seconds, and Cricket needing to sniff everything, and Zoe on a mission to get to the sidewalk as quickly as possible. But the joy of all three dogs is so obvious as they walk along, that it’s worth the extra level of difficulty.
The food routine (making sure Zoe eats before George gobbles everything up), and the drama, and the wee wee pads, on top of four walks a day with three dogs, and not knowing when they’ll be able to go home, or if their Mom will be up to caring for them, is adding a lot of stress to my life lately. I wish I could just say no, that’s enough, and send the dogs home. But, how do you say no to puppy dogs?
“I’ll say no for you, Mommy. I’m good at it.”
rachelmankowitz 
Rachel–I just had to laugh. This post was so much fun and the captions are hilarious. I am glad you said ‘no’ to the bird. There seem to be issues with Izzy that do need addressing. George and Zoe, with their little personalities, are adorable. Cricket–I am so sorry I said that because you know I think you are even more adorable.
Cricket knows, but she always likes to hear that she’s right. Thank you!
Loved this!! Just the right amount of humor for my Saturday night!!
I’m so glad!
“Your blood’s worth bottling” Rachel – An old Australian saying which roughly translates as “your blood is so precious it is worth canning” – a compliment I give to you for your kindhearted dog sitting.
Thank you so much!
Sounds like you had a lot of fun. I’m pretty sure you need to adopt a few more dogs and a bird just to keep the good times rolling.
Ha!
Poor Izzy and poor you.
Can birds take anti-anxiety meds? Because she really needs them.
You are such a good person to take in this menagerie! They are cute though 🙂
Thank you!
My goodness! You’ve got your hands full, what a fun post to read… my 10 year old enjoyed it as well!
Thank you!
I was a little disappointed because, from the title, I hoped that you meant that you had found a full-time companion for Cricket, but, under the circumstances, I’m glad the “company” was returnable!
Probably for the best right now.
What a drama! It sounded like very funny but I am sure you were so stressed out with this. You have a very kind heart though. Wish the dogs will behave while in your care.
The poor bird needs some professional help. 😓
Thank you!
You can’t say to a pistacchio or a puppy! (Don’t know if you remember that old ad campaign.). You are a sweetie to help out. : – )
Thank you!
Yes, I too thought you had found a companion for Cricket, but three dogs out at the same time – that really is a handful. I find two enough. I have never had any birds to look after and I don’t know how I would cope with a bird. I think I would prefer the three dogs instead.
Me too.
Wowee zowee!
What a lovely, lively post!
Thank you!
I know exactly what’s wrong with Izzy. It’s parrot mating season and there’s no male available. I have the same problem but I don’t yank my feathers out-that’s an African Grey thing.
So if we find Izzy a boyfriend she’ll feel better?
I think so. I’ve never had a boyfriend so I can’t say for sure.
What do we do with the boyfriend after mating season is over?
Poor Cricket… a truly righteous dog. Has to give up good food because of the dietary restrictions of guests?! Hard to imagine any human who’d suffer that.
Cricket is not happy about it. Believe me.
I love the ‘When are they leaving’ photo!
Cricket has taken to hiding under and behind her people. She’s ready for the visit to end.
Poor Cricket!
Such a fun, lively post. The photos are lovely 🙂
Thank you!
Rather you than me Rachel. I’m afraid I’m not a fan of poop mats and towels, but we have looked after dogs for other people and had no problems once Maggie told them that the bedroom and our bed was off limits, even when we were on the boat. Food times it was always the visiting dog that waffled the grub, so we had to make sure Maggie had hers.
Some friends in the boating world had a parrot called Woodrow. He would say Hello and Goodbye, and tell them when it was bedtime. My parents had a cockatiel called Fred who I used to call Hissing Sid as he’d hiss at me every time I passed his cage. That was until I sat down to play, then he’d join in. I wish your neighbour a speedy recovery. Could she give someone a key to her apartment to see to the parrot or is his anxiety issues too great and he needs human company?
That sounds like a good idea. Izzy might like having the apartment to herself for a while.
My uncle had an African Grey parrot. It talked a lot, imitated TV jingles, and would sit on his lap in the evenings. But it also plucked its own feathers, until it had none left on its body at all. I don’t think such intelligent birds should be allowed to be held in captivity. Their stress is sad to see, and I feel it is cruel.
Best wishes, Pete.
Yes they should not be held in captivity. They can’t be set free as they do not have the skills to live in the wild. My Sasha is a rescue who was abandoned by her owner and she was born in captivity. I don’t like any breeding as all is is is making money of the lives of a living being. I have no respect for breeders.
My vet has an African Grey in the waiting room at the office and Boopy seems to be doing well, possibly because he has so many people and animals to interact with. Either that, or he’s well medicated.
What an assignment!
Yes!
Cricket is stalwart! I agree, the bird needs a sanctuary. My gosh you’ve had a lot of snow.
We had a huge snowfall on Wednesday. Even Cricket was overwhelmed.
All that activity must be draining! It was good of you to take care of them while their mom is recovering, though. Hang in there, Cricket! Things will get back to normal…and the kibble will return. 🙂
She’s hoping for chicken.
Ha Ha! Well, one cant blame her for that. 🙂
Very funny! You are very brave!
Thank you!
Sorry for all your extra stress but I’m laughing at your post
Thank you!
Even though I think you already have it all sorted out, by the time you BELIEVE you have it sorted out it will be time for the pups to go home. And yes, 3 leashes are difficult – I finally made the dogs take turns. But then, we don’t have snow.
I think Cricket would lose her mind if I dared to take either of the other dogs out for a walk without her. It could get violent.
LOL! It’s good to know your dog. 🙂
Yep.
this is a masterpiece, Rachel, everything about it. btw – only a tiny bit related – perhaps you’d enjoy reading ‘Alex & Me,’ about african grey parrot used for science research in a good way
I’ll look for it, thank you! I’m very curious about African Greys now, and why they are prone to feather plucking.
Oh, my goodness – and you’re still smiling! Short order cook, psychologist/social worker, dog walker, and peace maker. Thanks for the laughs.
Thank you!
G’luck figuring out this conundrum!
Look at it this way, if you do decide to get a second dog, Cricket will be so relieved that it doesn’t come with a third dog and a parrot that she’ll welcome it with open arms. Well, maybe not, but she’ll be grateful for small blessings.
Speaking of blessings, God will bless you for your kindness to your neighbor.
I love that idea! Here’s hoping Cricket believes in being grateful.
I have a friend who has a parrot. I don’t know how she does it! It really does sound stressful. I’m not good at saying no in times like this either. But, I have to say you gave me a good giggle. So, thanks for that and warmest wishes with all your housemates 😊❤️
Thank you!
You are such a wonderful writer! AND a good neighbor. You can’t please everyone all of the time. You sure try hard enough though.
Thank you!
Too gorgeous what a lovely post, your fluffy gang !!
Thank you!
Sounds like quite the adventure! You may qualify for sainthood. :)))
Ha!
Amazing
Thank you!
Sounds like all kinds of fun at your house 😉
I love the pics, and the captions are awesome. I’m trying hard to find things to laugh at today, so thanks for that!
Thank you!
Oh dear, what a big family you had for a while and still have! You are such a good-hearted person, Rachel. George seems to sleep exactly like Dylan 🙂
Too cute! My brother has a parrot and I know what you mean, he can be very loud. They are beautiful though. It was a very nice thing you did Rachel and I’m sure it was greatly appreciated. Who knows? Maybe Izzy is a little less anxious now that she sees how nice people can be. 🙂
I would love that.
Good for you! (Not being bullied into taking parrot again) they’re really to bright to be in a small cage. 😦
Thank you!
Great post – parrots are like that one weird relative we all have. And, I totally agree, LOUD.
Ha!
I am sorry your neighbor is ill. It was so kind of you to look after her animal family. I think it was very kind and brave of you to say no to the bird. I think a lot of people are not aware of how much attention they need. I mean, to me, it makes sense . . . . lock a creature that is supposed to be flying in a cage there is going to be some mental issues. As you said, it might be best if she goes with professionals.
I know of a great bird sanctuary (in Arizona) that helps a lot of birds.
Well, if you don’t end up keeping these dogs (I see how that might happen) then this might be the “push” you need to actually get a sibling for Cricket.
Cricket would like to “push” me if I dare to bring another dog into her home without her direct approval.
Sooo cute.
Thank you!
Since I can’t have a parrot or a dog, this post was the next-best thing! I loved hearing about Zoe and George’s unique personalities and it really made me smile. 🙂
Thank you!
Wonderful post. You have a unique way of capturing your reader. I love it and I love the dogs also. They are cute, even the bird. You are a good neighbor. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much!
We once had a conversation with a parrot expert, who rescued them. He warned against private ownership as they nearly always outlive their owners and, of course, are very demanding because so intelligent and companionable. Despite all that, the idea of having one in the house has always been really attractive! Pip and the boys
I think so much depends on making sure the parrot has enough companionship and interesting stuff to do.
Yes, they have very active brains!
I have a cousin named Billie who has a reputation as a Big Talker, and to be known as a Big Talker in Texas means she talks and talks…and then talks some more. Everyone in the family says Billie is fond of the sound of her own voice. She is now 80 but tells the story of when she was a teenager she visited cousins of ours in California who had an African grey parrot.
The cousins took Billie to Disneyland and, of course, the bird went along for the ride. At one point while they were riding along in the car Billie must have taken a breath and all of a sudden, the bird said very loudly “Billie likes to talk, talk. Shut up, Billie.”
I’ve never forgotten that story – it makes me smile now.
Your home is filled with new drama for the current residents. All I can say is good for you and your mom and Cricket to be willing to welcome the pups into your lives. I’m sure your friend knows how lucky she is to have your help. May you all survive and enjoy each other!
These parrots! Who knew they were such divas!
What an ordeal! I know what it’s like when you have a dog that wants to mark indoors. You are doing the best you can.
Thank you!
sweet post!
Thank you!
ow! that is a lot of guests!
Thank you for your kind heart. You are a blessing.
Thank you!
You are a TRUE animal lover. I would have been a little crazed trying to handle all of that. Thanks for the laughs!
Thank you!