mh434
New member
- Oct 28, 2014
- 473
- 9
- Parrots
-
Yellow-naped Amazon "Sammy"
Love birds (4)
Green-cheeked Conure "Skittles" - now, sadly gone from my life
Blue-Crowned Conure "Tequila"
African Grey "Reno" - sadly, now gone from my life
She wasn't a bird, but she was deeply loved. We rescued her as a puppy 14 years ago, and every single day of her life she was a loving, devoted member of our family.
On November 30th we were out of the country and she was at a dog-sitter's, in a remote area on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The sitter was one of her favorite people in the whole world, and she, in turn, loved Echo beyond measure.
While the sitter was moving some things into the house, Echo slipped out the door past her. She always came when called, but for some reason, this time she wouldn't. The sitter became alarmed and kept calling, but Echo just stopped at the edge of the dense forest, turned, gave her one long, last look, and slipped into the forest. Over the next hour there were two sightings of her a half mile away, but then...nothing.
We didn't find out about it for a couple of days. The sitter had called everyone she knew, and had several people out looking for her without success. When I found out about it (we were in Mexico), I immediately posted on Facebook, and mobilized a virtual army of helpers. One of our local rescue groups was out every day, searching for her with infrared cameras, and friends of mine I haven't seen in years drove miles out into the wilderness to search. She was posted on every single lost-pet forum, social media, and online newspaper in the entire area.
Strangely, on the morning of December 3rd, while walking the beach alone in Mexico, I came across some dog prints in the sand that reminded me of Echo. At that precise moment, a chill surged over me as though someone had poured a vat of ice water over me, and Echo's memory surged through me with crystal clarity. It was so powerful that I almost collapsed, and I believe it was Echo, passing away.
On my early return from Mexico, I immediately started searching, by car and on foot, covering miles of jagged cliffs, coastline (the open Pacific meets the shores there), slash areas, and dense rain forest.
Despite all of this, not a single trace has been found. Echo had congestive heart disease issues, but was doing well on medication. She hated those vile pills, though, and it was a trial to disguise them. Perhaps, she just decided she'd had enough of them, or maybe she decided to head for home - 25 km. of the roughest terrain on the coast, during heavy storms & freezing temperatures. I don't think we'll ever know why she left, or what happened to her.
I don't handle these things well, as I love my furred and feathered friends passionately, and not knowing, no closure at all, is difficult for me. I still hear her soft breathing in the night, her her tags jingle in the darkness, but she's not there.
She wasn't a bird, I know, but I don't know anywhere else where people are so caring, and so loving of animals, so I hope it's okay to post her here. Please say a prayer for my beloved Echo, hope that her pain is past, and that she's free to run happy, until I meet her again.
I love you, little girl, and I miss you.
On November 30th we were out of the country and she was at a dog-sitter's, in a remote area on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The sitter was one of her favorite people in the whole world, and she, in turn, loved Echo beyond measure.
While the sitter was moving some things into the house, Echo slipped out the door past her. She always came when called, but for some reason, this time she wouldn't. The sitter became alarmed and kept calling, but Echo just stopped at the edge of the dense forest, turned, gave her one long, last look, and slipped into the forest. Over the next hour there were two sightings of her a half mile away, but then...nothing.
We didn't find out about it for a couple of days. The sitter had called everyone she knew, and had several people out looking for her without success. When I found out about it (we were in Mexico), I immediately posted on Facebook, and mobilized a virtual army of helpers. One of our local rescue groups was out every day, searching for her with infrared cameras, and friends of mine I haven't seen in years drove miles out into the wilderness to search. She was posted on every single lost-pet forum, social media, and online newspaper in the entire area.
Strangely, on the morning of December 3rd, while walking the beach alone in Mexico, I came across some dog prints in the sand that reminded me of Echo. At that precise moment, a chill surged over me as though someone had poured a vat of ice water over me, and Echo's memory surged through me with crystal clarity. It was so powerful that I almost collapsed, and I believe it was Echo, passing away.
On my early return from Mexico, I immediately started searching, by car and on foot, covering miles of jagged cliffs, coastline (the open Pacific meets the shores there), slash areas, and dense rain forest.
Despite all of this, not a single trace has been found. Echo had congestive heart disease issues, but was doing well on medication. She hated those vile pills, though, and it was a trial to disguise them. Perhaps, she just decided she'd had enough of them, or maybe she decided to head for home - 25 km. of the roughest terrain on the coast, during heavy storms & freezing temperatures. I don't think we'll ever know why she left, or what happened to her.
I don't handle these things well, as I love my furred and feathered friends passionately, and not knowing, no closure at all, is difficult for me. I still hear her soft breathing in the night, her her tags jingle in the darkness, but she's not there.
She wasn't a bird, I know, but I don't know anywhere else where people are so caring, and so loving of animals, so I hope it's okay to post her here. Please say a prayer for my beloved Echo, hope that her pain is past, and that she's free to run happy, until I meet her again.
I love you, little girl, and I miss you.
I'm sorry for you friend, hugs to you across virtual reality. If I was there you would get a real hug. 
