My Furry (and Feathered) Friends:

Photo by Lesli C. Anderson

Alec, the Cockatiel

Alec, a beautiful grey, yellow and white cockatiel, was a stray found in our neighborhood around 2000, while I was working at a local animal hospital.

One day, a gentleman who lived across the alley from the hospital walked in with this friendly cockatiel. He had been working on his garage, high up on a ladder, when suddenly a bird landed on his head! The bird was probably hungry and tired, and having been raised by people, he went to a person for help. I walked all over the neighborhood, asking if anyone was missing a cockatiel. I was told by bird care experts that the chances of finding a stray bird's owner are slim. Cockatiels can fly a long way! They are native to Australia, and fly great distances to find fresh water.

​Alec has lived at my house since then. We named him Alec in honor of the actor who played a main character in the movie “Bridge On The River Kwai,” as Alec could whistle perfectly the first strains of one of its most popular themes. We know that Alec is a male, but we don't know his age. He must have been pretty young when we found him.

---

Heidi,
​Domestic Shorthair Tortoiseshell Tabby

Heidi was born in 1998, one of a litter of five kittens. She is the only cat (of many!) we've owned who has lived to old age. Not sure why. Perhaps it is because she has lived her life caring for us. We call her a nurse cat or angel cat, because often when we are ill she curls up on the bed, near our heads and places one gentle paw upon our faces. She used to purr loudly while doing this, but now is quieter. At her elderly age, we are spending more time curling up around her. To find out more about the adventures of our cats, read the book!

Photo by Kaitlyn Anderson