Forums · My spirited pets
I'm fortunate enough to have some pets who have never left me. My house is blessed by the presence of my Cocker Spaniel, Muffin, and my MinPin, Tiffanie. Muffin left this plane seven years ago. Tiffanie left this plane three years ago. Both still make their presence known on an almost daily basis. My three living dogs see them all the time. Big old Chewie's still scared of mean little Tiffanie. She still bosses him around. When my step-Beagle, Sadie, came to live with us, Muffin and Tiffanie were very curious and a little put out. But they got used to it. I still feel Tiffanie curled up on my pillow with her paw in my hand. Muffin still rattles her dog tags every morning. They're quite a comfort.
The most active spirit, though, is Georgie the First. My DSO is a minister. He gave me my first two keets as an Easter gift last year. In November, we adopted Larry, Mo and Curley from a lady he did a funeral for. Her grandchild died of SIDS at 19 days old, and she just couldn't face taking care of the birds anymore. Also in November, he did a wedding for a couple who had cockatiels. He said he wanted one for me. They said if theirs ever laid eggs, we'd have the pick. They did and we did.
In January, George and Gracie came to live with us at eight weeks. All wings. After three weeks with us, Georgie fell and suffered a compound fracture of his wing. After surgery at the Avian Vet's, he died. I was devastated. Gracie mourned and I thought we'd lose her. One week to the hour after George's death, my DSO found a dark gray tailfeather on his keyboard. Gracie's a pearl. George was a Normal. Dark Gray.
My DSO and I are both very sensitive. We knew something was up, but we still wondered if we'd somehow overlooked the feather and it had been around all along. Two days later, another feather appeared in the kitchen. Georgie had never been there. The bird room/ofice is on another floor of the house. Three days later, I opened the clothes dryer, and, you guessed it! A dark gray feather.
We have found many more feathers. All of which I keep in a wooden box. I've found them all over the house. Even in our bedroom.
We're meticulous about how we keep the bird room. It's our business office, too, so we have to be. It's swept and mopped every night. I pick up any large feathers and keep them in my box. Where Georgie the First's feathers have come from........who knows? I know he's still here. We catch him flying out of the corner of our eyes. Also, the feathers have "grown" as Georgie the First would have grown. He would be full grown now, and past his first molt. The feathers we find now from him are full grown.
Gracie eventually got over Georgie's death. I think because she still has him with her. In April I found a second Georgie. I found an eight week old Normal gray Cockatiel that needed a mommy, so she became mine. Yes, she. We named her Georgie anyway. Georgie the Second and Gracie have bonded and are best buds.
Now I only know certain feathers to be George the First's based on where I find them. If they appear outside the bird room, I know they have to be his. I never take my guys out of the bird room because it's perfectly safe for them. It's as bird proof as we can get it!
Georgie the First was very curious when Georgie the Second came. And last week when Cosmo, Wanda and Polly came my way, he was really curious. He's especially fond of Little Polly, it seems. We've found a couple of his feathers in her cage. They're not Georgie II's feathers because the few times any of the tiels have even attempted to land on Polly's cage, she's nipped their feet with a vengence! They stay clear!
I'm glad my Georgie's still here. He was such a precious bird and we were so attached to him that losing him was devastating. Especially after the surgery to save him. He was recovering nicely, but just did not make it.
My DSO build him a coffin out of wood. He painted it red, Georgie's favorite color. He also painted Georgie's picture on the lid and put his name and dates on it. He's buried in my garden under an angel fountain. She's holding birds in her hands. I think he'd enjoy it there. I know he still enjoys leaving his feathers for us to find.
The most active spirit, though, is Georgie the First. My DSO is a minister. He gave me my first two keets as an Easter gift last year. In November, we adopted Larry, Mo and Curley from a lady he did a funeral for. Her grandchild died of SIDS at 19 days old, and she just couldn't face taking care of the birds anymore. Also in November, he did a wedding for a couple who had cockatiels. He said he wanted one for me. They said if theirs ever laid eggs, we'd have the pick. They did and we did.
In January, George and Gracie came to live with us at eight weeks. All wings. After three weeks with us, Georgie fell and suffered a compound fracture of his wing. After surgery at the Avian Vet's, he died. I was devastated. Gracie mourned and I thought we'd lose her. One week to the hour after George's death, my DSO found a dark gray tailfeather on his keyboard. Gracie's a pearl. George was a Normal. Dark Gray.
My DSO and I are both very sensitive. We knew something was up, but we still wondered if we'd somehow overlooked the feather and it had been around all along. Two days later, another feather appeared in the kitchen. Georgie had never been there. The bird room/ofice is on another floor of the house. Three days later, I opened the clothes dryer, and, you guessed it! A dark gray feather.
We have found many more feathers. All of which I keep in a wooden box. I've found them all over the house. Even in our bedroom.
We're meticulous about how we keep the bird room. It's our business office, too, so we have to be. It's swept and mopped every night. I pick up any large feathers and keep them in my box. Where Georgie the First's feathers have come from........who knows? I know he's still here. We catch him flying out of the corner of our eyes. Also, the feathers have "grown" as Georgie the First would have grown. He would be full grown now, and past his first molt. The feathers we find now from him are full grown.
Gracie eventually got over Georgie's death. I think because she still has him with her. In April I found a second Georgie. I found an eight week old Normal gray Cockatiel that needed a mommy, so she became mine. Yes, she. We named her Georgie anyway. Georgie the Second and Gracie have bonded and are best buds.
Now I only know certain feathers to be George the First's based on where I find them. If they appear outside the bird room, I know they have to be his. I never take my guys out of the bird room because it's perfectly safe for them. It's as bird proof as we can get it!
Georgie the First was very curious when Georgie the Second came. And last week when Cosmo, Wanda and Polly came my way, he was really curious. He's especially fond of Little Polly, it seems. We've found a couple of his feathers in her cage. They're not Georgie II's feathers because the few times any of the tiels have even attempted to land on Polly's cage, she's nipped their feet with a vengence! They stay clear!
I'm glad my Georgie's still here. He was such a precious bird and we were so attached to him that losing him was devastating. Especially after the surgery to save him. He was recovering nicely, but just did not make it.
My DSO build him a coffin out of wood. He painted it red, Georgie's favorite color. He also painted Georgie's picture on the lid and put his name and dates on it. He's buried in my garden under an angel fountain. She's holding birds in her hands. I think he'd enjoy it there. I know he still enjoys leaving his feathers for us to find.
Hi Spirited,
That is so wonderful that you are given continual signs from your beloved pets, letting you know they are still with you. =) It is a comfort when we recieve gifts like these. That is really neat about the feathers it sure does sound like Georgie the First is leaving them for you. Very interesting that the feathers have grown, I've never heard of that happening before. Aww that's so nice that Gracie and Georgie the second have bonded so well. Your Angel fountain sounds lovely and your bird room (and all your feather babies) sound wonderful too. Thanks for sharing this with us. Cat =)
That is so wonderful that you are given continual signs from your beloved pets, letting you know they are still with you. =) It is a comfort when we recieve gifts like these. That is really neat about the feathers it sure does sound like Georgie the First is leaving them for you. Very interesting that the feathers have grown, I've never heard of that happening before. Aww that's so nice that Gracie and Georgie the second have bonded so well. Your Angel fountain sounds lovely and your bird room (and all your feather babies) sound wonderful too. Thanks for sharing this with us. Cat =)
Georgie the Second and Gracie are in the process of thinking about mating. It's so funny because they're both too young and have no clue what they're doing yet. But eventually they'll get the hang of it and we'll have baby tiels. Cosmo and Wanda, who are adults, have shown no interest in the process.
I think Georgie the First knew he was not ready to go. I think he knew Gracie was devastated. They were brother and sister from the same nest. I think he also knew how much we loved him and how upset we were over his loss. I think he knows we need his reassurances that he's still around and perfectly okay. Just in another place. We have a dreamcatcher that a friend made us. It hangs in the middle of the bird room. She said it symbolizes the birds when she gave it to us. George the First used to sit on it and swing with Gracie for hours. Georgie the second has never sat on it. He prefers Murderer's Row with all his other friends. That Dreamcatcher will swing away sometimes when nobody is around it. Gracie will just watch it swinging and call to it. We know it's Georgie, letting us know he's here.
I thought he'd go away quietly when Georgie the Second came into our lives. I'm so happy and relieved he hasn't.
I'm surprised about the feathers growing as Georgie would age, too. That's been the most surprising thing of all. I can't explain it.
My friend is going to make us a dreamcatcher with Georgie the First and Gracie's feathers. We're going to add the other tiels feathers into it as they molt, too. I know Georgie will love that!
I think Georgie the First knew he was not ready to go. I think he knew Gracie was devastated. They were brother and sister from the same nest. I think he also knew how much we loved him and how upset we were over his loss. I think he knows we need his reassurances that he's still around and perfectly okay. Just in another place. We have a dreamcatcher that a friend made us. It hangs in the middle of the bird room. She said it symbolizes the birds when she gave it to us. George the First used to sit on it and swing with Gracie for hours. Georgie the second has never sat on it. He prefers Murderer's Row with all his other friends. That Dreamcatcher will swing away sometimes when nobody is around it. Gracie will just watch it swinging and call to it. We know it's Georgie, letting us know he's here.
I thought he'd go away quietly when Georgie the Second came into our lives. I'm so happy and relieved he hasn't.
I'm surprised about the feathers growing as Georgie would age, too. That's been the most surprising thing of all. I can't explain it.
My friend is going to make us a dreamcatcher with Georgie the First and Gracie's feathers. We're going to add the other tiels feathers into it as they molt, too. I know Georgie will love that!
That is the sweetest thing I believe I have ever read! I just read it to Moma (I take care of her, she has been on oxygen for almost 12 yrs...) anyway, I had tears in my eyes while I was reading it to her...we lost my 29 yr. old niece Angie 2 months ago the 25th, & it is so good to read stories like this...proof that life does go on. Thank you so much for sharing this...
There's no doubt that life does continue on. I wish you and your Mom well. I will pray for your niece. Look for indications she's around you. You'll see them.
You must excuse me. My cockatiels have hijacked the key that represents the letter that comes after f on my keyboard. So I'm havin to be creative about how I type and the words I use. eore and racie are quite pleased with themselves. Cosmo and Wanda aren't talkin. I know eore and racie have it, thouh, in their cae somewhere. Never a dull moment.
You must excuse me. My cockatiels have hijacked the key that represents the letter that comes after f on my keyboard. So I'm havin to be creative about how I type and the words I use. eore and racie are quite pleased with themselves. Cosmo and Wanda aren't talkin. I know eore and racie have it, thouh, in their cae somewhere. Never a dull moment.