Post by clt80 on Jun 6, 2017 8:21:22 GMT
Dorothy came to me in March 2015 with Gloria and Ivy. She was at the RSPCA and had been removed from a previous owner along with 30 other budgies. My local RSPCA branch had taken 10 of the budgies and I had rehomed 3 of them. There was no way of knowing if she was paired with anyone or if her partner had been sent to another RSPCA.
Ivy, a small baby budgie at the time was particularly close to Dorothy, who I suspected was not much older. They had similar colourings, I wondered if they were sisters. Ivy would regularly cuddle up to Dorothy looking for protection.
Upon bringing her home I noticed her legs were not quite right. They had been badly broken, maybe when she was hatched. Her owner had either not noticed, nor corrected them. She managed incredibly well considering she had to walk on her knee and her feet were all crumpled up. I remember buying some nappy rash cream to try to sooth her pressure points on them, of course she hated that being put on!
She was a glorious green, not just any green, but a green like the Caribbean sea on a beautiful day: glowing and shimmering a light green haze. She had a beautiful yellow face and bright black eyes. She was incredibly beautiful.
Dorothy's nature matched her looks, beautiful. She never caused any tension or trouble with anyone, she just was happy. Heathcliffe noticed her quickly and they soon became an item. Healthcliffe would feed her and preen her, and she would preen him. They would always be together chattering to each other. Heathcliffe was protective of her, if another suitor came alone (which they often did) he would fly straight over to him and get in the way. They were very much in love.
Dorothy liked to sit on one of the high ladders in the aviary, where the sun shone in the mornings. She would often be seen sat on there perusing what others were up to from her vantage point. She liked to pull the hanging toys up through the ladder and swing them. When it rained she would hide under the rafters trying to seek shelter, even though the aviary has a roof and she was not getting wet; this made me smile often when I saw it.
Her other favourite spot was on a branch looking out at the garden, with Heathcliffe by her side. Here they would preen each other, feed each other and generally be happy and blissful with life. They indeed were very cute together.
At nights she would sleep either in a seed tray for comfort, or by an edge so she could adjust her bad leg to hold onto the edge. Burrowing her little head into her wing she would drift off and dream sweet dreams.
All was well until last Autumn, when she developed a lump - said to be cancer and inoperable. We prepared for the worst but she just carried on...month after month. Then last week she kept falling from perches and seemed generally unhappy. A second opinion on her lump and subsequently an operation showed her lump was a hernia.
Dorothy made it through the operation and had Heathcliffe waiting in her cage at the veterinary practice. When I picked her up she seemed perky and 'brand new'. Hurrah - she was fixed.
Little did I know later that night she would go down hill. Heathcliffe stayed by her side throughout. Two days later after what must have been a painful weekend for her she lost all her strength. She was on the floor but still not giving up. My brave little fighter fought to the very end. I held her, she didn't fight back, I put her to my chest so she could feel my heart beating, all the love I have for her. She was so weak. I took Heathcliffe to put him back in the aviary - he jumped to her and gently pecked her head before flying out the cage; he was saying to her ' Dorothy quick, lets go back in the aviary and be free again '. Dorothy couldn't even stand, and barely moved her head. It was one of the saddest things I've ever witnessed.
Dorothy never made it to the vets and passed on route within the hour. She had been through so much but it proved to be just too much. I hope the two years she had with Heathcliffe made her life worth living. I am so sorry I could not save you my darling. I am so proud of the strength, determination and courage you displayed not only through your operation and afterwards but throughout your entire life. What ever you was faced with you overcame, until finally it was just too much for you. I hope one day I will have as much determination as you had in life.
Rest in peace my sweet, I miss seeing your little face and all the flock do too, Heathcliffe is devastated. Fly free and high, feel the wind in your feathers, until we meet again. Goodbye my Angel xxxx
Ivy, a small baby budgie at the time was particularly close to Dorothy, who I suspected was not much older. They had similar colourings, I wondered if they were sisters. Ivy would regularly cuddle up to Dorothy looking for protection.
Upon bringing her home I noticed her legs were not quite right. They had been badly broken, maybe when she was hatched. Her owner had either not noticed, nor corrected them. She managed incredibly well considering she had to walk on her knee and her feet were all crumpled up. I remember buying some nappy rash cream to try to sooth her pressure points on them, of course she hated that being put on!
She was a glorious green, not just any green, but a green like the Caribbean sea on a beautiful day: glowing and shimmering a light green haze. She had a beautiful yellow face and bright black eyes. She was incredibly beautiful.
Dorothy's nature matched her looks, beautiful. She never caused any tension or trouble with anyone, she just was happy. Heathcliffe noticed her quickly and they soon became an item. Healthcliffe would feed her and preen her, and she would preen him. They would always be together chattering to each other. Heathcliffe was protective of her, if another suitor came alone (which they often did) he would fly straight over to him and get in the way. They were very much in love.
Dorothy liked to sit on one of the high ladders in the aviary, where the sun shone in the mornings. She would often be seen sat on there perusing what others were up to from her vantage point. She liked to pull the hanging toys up through the ladder and swing them. When it rained she would hide under the rafters trying to seek shelter, even though the aviary has a roof and she was not getting wet; this made me smile often when I saw it.
Her other favourite spot was on a branch looking out at the garden, with Heathcliffe by her side. Here they would preen each other, feed each other and generally be happy and blissful with life. They indeed were very cute together.
At nights she would sleep either in a seed tray for comfort, or by an edge so she could adjust her bad leg to hold onto the edge. Burrowing her little head into her wing she would drift off and dream sweet dreams.
All was well until last Autumn, when she developed a lump - said to be cancer and inoperable. We prepared for the worst but she just carried on...month after month. Then last week she kept falling from perches and seemed generally unhappy. A second opinion on her lump and subsequently an operation showed her lump was a hernia.
Dorothy made it through the operation and had Heathcliffe waiting in her cage at the veterinary practice. When I picked her up she seemed perky and 'brand new'. Hurrah - she was fixed.
Little did I know later that night she would go down hill. Heathcliffe stayed by her side throughout. Two days later after what must have been a painful weekend for her she lost all her strength. She was on the floor but still not giving up. My brave little fighter fought to the very end. I held her, she didn't fight back, I put her to my chest so she could feel my heart beating, all the love I have for her. She was so weak. I took Heathcliffe to put him back in the aviary - he jumped to her and gently pecked her head before flying out the cage; he was saying to her ' Dorothy quick, lets go back in the aviary and be free again '. Dorothy couldn't even stand, and barely moved her head. It was one of the saddest things I've ever witnessed.
Dorothy never made it to the vets and passed on route within the hour. She had been through so much but it proved to be just too much. I hope the two years she had with Heathcliffe made her life worth living. I am so sorry I could not save you my darling. I am so proud of the strength, determination and courage you displayed not only through your operation and afterwards but throughout your entire life. What ever you was faced with you overcame, until finally it was just too much for you. I hope one day I will have as much determination as you had in life.
Rest in peace my sweet, I miss seeing your little face and all the flock do too, Heathcliffe is devastated. Fly free and high, feel the wind in your feathers, until we meet again. Goodbye my Angel xxxx