Pets Are the Best People

I have a budgie. His name is Smiddy. He speaks a lot and he makes a mess but he keeps me company all the time and rarely hassles me about anything. In fact, he's a lot of fun! He can say a lot of words and he dances and does all sorts of cute things.

We have our communication cues for different things. He does little things to tell me when he wants to eat, when he needs water, when he wants to go to sleep, when he wants a bath, and when he wants to get out of his cage. Meanwhile, I have cues for when I want to put him to bed and when I want him to go back in his cage and most of the time he is compliant.

We have spent many years devising this unspoken communication and respect. It's precious to me.

Unfortunately, Smiddy is getting old, has a growth around his kidneys and could be dying. I have to take him to the Vet in about 10 minutes but we have known for some time that this wonderful little character could be taken from us soon ... yet, it still hurts to think it could be today because it's so sudden.

You see, birds are clever characters, unfortunately, much to their own detriment in a domestic setting. They hide their illness very well to protect themselves. It's only in the last stages that they reveal their true state of health, and often it is too late to help them. We have saved him three times already. Let's see if we can make it four.