Summary

The author, seeking companionship and improved mental health, adopted a cockatiel named Twinkie, eventually finding him a mate, Tinkerbell, and later placing Twinkie in a loving sanctuary with other birds after Tinkerbell's passing.

Abstract

The author, feeling lonely and in need of emotional support, decided to get a pet bird based on a newspaper article suggesting pets are beneficial for mental health. Despite initial resistance, the author's father suggested getting two birds, hinting at the author's need for companionship. The author bonded deeply with Twinkie, a white cockatiel, but the bird's dependency on the author led to the need for a second bird, Tinkerbell, to keep Twinkie company. After Tinkerbell's sudden death, Twinkie's distress prompted the author to find him a new home with other cockatiels. The author placed a personal ad and, after careful consideration, chose a bird enthusiast's sanctuary for Twinkie, ensuring his happiness and social needs were met in a community of birds.

Opinions

The author initially rejected the idea of getting two birds, emphasizing the desire for a direct emotional bond with a pet.
The author found genuine companionship and joy in the relationship with Twinkie, indicating the positive impact pets can have on their owners' well-being.
The author expressed a mix of amusement and exasperation at Twinkie's training efforts, highlighting the quirky nature of pet ownership.
The author's decision to find Twinkie a new companion after Tinkerbell's death reflects a deep sense of responsibility and empathy for the bird's emotional state.
The author felt a sense of accomplishment and relief in finding an ideal home for Twinkie, suggesting that sometimes the best decision for a pet's happiness may involve letting them go.

Doing The Right Thing

A Personal Ad I Placed

To Save My Sanity

Believe it or not…before dating apps we used the classified pages! Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay

Single White Male. Lonely and looking for a suitable mate.

That’s how I started the personal ad on his behalf.

It all began years ago. When I was lonely and feeling down. I read in the newspaper that having a pet was really good for mental health. I told my dad about the article and that I was considering getting a bird.

“Well in that case, you oughta’ get two!” He remarked sarcastically. It wasn’t lost on me that here he was encouraging me to get a double dosage, when his controlling ways were often the cause of my sadness, but I digress.

“No!” I corrected him. “I was reading that if you get two, they pair up. But one will pair up with its owner.” And I so desperately needed that kind of unconditional love in my life.

So I went to the pet store — back in the dark ages when there was still such a thing. And I spotted my “Twinkie.” He was a white cockatiel who looked a little quirky. Just the way I like ‘em.

He spent the first few days cowering in the corner of his cage looking petrified. But then he warmed up to me. When he realized I supplied the bird seed, that is.

Cue sappy music and bonding montage

Twinkie and I spent all my free time together. The second I’d get home from work I’d release him from his cage. He’d sit on my finger and stare at me whilst I caught up on all the talk shows I’d taped. He adored it when I’d scratch his head. He’d try to reciprocate by preening my tangled mane which he almost gagged on, so I pulled it into a ponytail to save him. I taught him to ring his little bell. And when he showed talent, I encouraged him like any proud parent would, assuring him how immensely musically gifted he was.

After a while though, Twinkie started training ME. I was foolishly flattered when he would squawk loudly as I’d leave the room.

“He misses me!” I would show off to no one, Norma Desmond style. And I’d gleefully pirouette back by his side. We’d repeat this choreography until it was ingrained in him (and me) that I was NOT to leave the room, lest he start chirping wildly.

It wasn’t so charming (nor flattering) when it became an annoying habit, unfortunately. Careful what you wish for!

So I ended up having to take my father’s advice after all, and get another bird for the mental health benefit of having two birds. Only it wasn’t in the way he insinuated. More, like get Twinkie a companion that will never leave his side, for his sake. And to save my eardrums!

I found Twinkie his mate Tinkerbell. I got her from an aviary where she had been raised only with birds so she would be accepting of Twinkie and not attach to me.

They were two little love birds, that pair.

Only problem was, Twinkie didn’t know how to reciprocate during head scratching time. She would scratch his, and then put her head down for her turn. Twinkie would just leave his head down waiting for more, like he was used to with me. Other than that, their companionship worked really well for several years. Until Tinkerbell unexpectedly passed away. Twinkie and I were both devastated.

His screaming began from the moment she died. He was worse than ever. I couldn’t face the heartache of seeing him like this. And yet, I didn’t want to repeat the same scenario. I scratched my head and then his, as I contemplated and warned him, “I’m not getting you another bird, Twinkie!”

That’s when I decided to do the right thing.

I placed an ad in the newspaper about a free white male bird that had just lost his mate and was looking for a loving home with another cockatiel. At 7 am on Saturday, my least favourite time to be awoken, my phone started ringing.

The first person who called said she was a bird fanatic. She had turned her family room into a bird room, and she had three cockatiels, and other varieties of birds. She was obviously very passionate about birding and after a long chat, I said I’d come visit her sanctuary with Twinkie and we could see if it worked. My phone continued to ring off the hook for the rest of the weekend. So many people were in the same boat and were looking to bring in another bird after a mate was lost.

The bird sanctuary lady wasn’t kidding. She had the most elaborate setup imaginable, and her birds were treated like royalty. Twinkie was obviously delighted to be in the presence of other cockatiels again and he pretty much ignored me within seconds. I knew I could feel good leaving him in this loving home, although it was hard for me to say goodbye.

When I checked up on him, the email reply I received gave me amazing reassurance.

“Twinkie is having so much fun and enjoying himself! Throughout the day, he and his cockatiel friends hang around on his cage you brought with all the toys and spacious multi-levels to play on. But at night, they fly to a smaller cage, bundling up all cozy side by side when they fall asleep. Birds of a feather do indeed flock together.”

I felt good knowing I’d done the right thing. I wonder if they all liked the same talk shows too?

Not actually Twinkie. My pictures all had red eyes. He wasn’t really a little devil. Image by zjxte from Pixabay

Thank you to brilliant https://medium.com/everything-fun editor Hollie Petit, Ph.D.

Thank you for reading my story.

For more please check out my book: https://amzn.to/3s01fDv