We had a visitor..

[Mare]

My friend Carol, the one that dumped Amigo on us six/seven years ago..came for a visit :). We talk on the phone periodically but she hasn't seen Amigo since I brought him home from her. I sound like I'm upset with her (which I was for quite awhile when she refused to take him back)..but I thank her every time I speak with her, now :)

She stayed with us for 3 days and is so happy to see how happy Amigo is, she says he screamed almost constantly with her. Carol spoke with her son on the phone while she was here and told him how Amigo doesn't scream anymore!

She still can't believe we do what we do with him and she is so thankful that he has such a tremendous life..a life she could never give him. He remembered her and they spent lots of time snuggling in the swing chair. She couldn't believe how big he was! He's got flying muscles that many of our birds don't have, I guess.

It was a wonderful visit, good for me, Tim and Amigo to see an old friend and good for her to see Amigo..a super special old friend :)

[Lady]

Wow that's great~ This confirms that they do remember someone from their long past.

[Mare]

I would say so, Alice :) the cage that I keep on the back deck, next to the bird's room (where Amigo lands when he wants in), is the cage he came to us with. It was his cage with Carol. She couldn't believe she kept him in such a small cage and now realizes why he was always breaking out!

[spiritbird]

That really is nice. Did Amigo react to her presence?

[plax]

It's a good thing she didn't ask you to give Amigo back to her. Based upon what you've explained, I'm sure she wouldn't. And even if she did, I'm sure you wouldn't give him up. After all, it would regress the enriched life he enjoys now. I think everyone agrees that things are as they should be... or at least as close as possible :)

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

That is a wonderful story, hopefully she will spread the word about not shutting big intelligent birds in small cages/prisons.

[Mare]

Dianne, yes, Amigo did react to her, I'd say he definitely remembered her fondly. Although he likes most women, there aren't many that will come right up to him, pick him up and speak sweet nothings to him :). He really enjoyed visiting with her.

Tony, I had no fear of Carol asking to take him back, she loves him too much to take him from his life he has here. But you're right...if she did..she'd have to do it over my dead body! :)

Jean-Pierre, my friend Carol, has an African Grey that she owned when she also had Amigo, she keeps her in a cage the exact same size as the one she kept Amigo in..not big. She said she feels sorry for her Sunny Girl, now, and will be looking for something larger.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Hmmm, Sunny Girl may be reluctant to try her new cage at first, Casper was. That was when he learned the phrase "come on then" that he uses whenever he wants us to do something for him. When I look back at photos of the cage when new it does look a bit bleak compared to all the perches, ropes and extras he has in there now. He very rarely uses the bottom third though, unless he has dropped something, because he likes to be at our eye level or above. He comes down to the lower perch sometimes when both Margaret and I are sitting down.

[Macaw Lover]

It is great that Amigo holds no resentment for your old friend. I have heard a number of times when the former owner comes to visit and the bird will attack the old owner, probably fearing he would have to return to the old life and doesn't want that or just stays far away and being more clingy to the new owner for the same reasons.

[PeachyDoll]

Mare how great that she can still visit and that Amigo has found such happiness and freedom with you. Last year I had Rosie's original owner (of 26 years) come over for a bit. We were very concerned that Rosie would have a bad reaction and maybe think that she would think he was going home with him. So we kept her in another room. We just weren't sure if it would be a good thing for her emotionally. Maybe one day we can do it, I would love to see her with him.

[Mare]

Haha :) Jean-Pierre, you've trained Casper well! Yes, Carol may have a bit of a time getting Sunny to accept a new cage. I think if she parks it in the same room and inch it closer over time, it will be easier. I've never had an issue with my birds accepting a new cage, maybe a cockatoo thing.

Renee, Amigo did love his old mom and I know she loved him, life threw her some hurdles and it took her awhile to get back up on her feet. I'm guessing that Amigo didn't so much love his life there but I know he loved his mom :). Gosh..PeachyDoll..I never dreamed/thought that Amigo might throw me overboard for Carol! He lived with Carol for 5yrs. before he came to us, he was 3yrs. when she bought him from a pet store in San Diego area.

I suppose if the bird has bonded to you, you're pretty safe from their affections switching over..Amigo has been known to be fickle, though..hmm..

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

We were a bit nervous when we took Casper to see his former keeper, my mum who is now in a home after suffering a stroke and then the death of my father.
They were both happy to see each other fortunately.
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Family reunion ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]) by Jean-Pierre Declemy ([Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]), on Flickr
Casper was a big hit with the caring staff and other residents as well apparently.