Scooter has been a true friend and enormous blessing over the past ten years. I’ve had him longer than I’ve been married; longer than I’ve been at my job; longer than I’ve owned my house, truck, or most of my motorcycles; longer than I’ve been a Christian. He’s been through a lot with me, and always stuck tirelessly by my side. Although I’m a daddy now and much more busy, Scooter is always right there, ready to play. He’s even been protective of little PJ at a time when we didn’t know if he would be jealous.
I was no stranger to birds when I got Scooter; my parents had a Quaker parrot and we grew up with a little parakeet in our home. I understood that a bird is a big investment of time. They have the comprehension of a small child and are not a pet you can leave unattended like a cat or a dog unless they’re safe within the confines of their cage. Certain things like air fresheners, scented candles, or Febreeze will kill a bird in minutes. They’re curious and must not be allowed to get into a toilet with the lid up, a pot of hot soup, or other such hazards. They really do require someone very meticulous.
I’ve never clipped Scooter’s wings…ever. That adds a whole new dimension of danger, of course. Only because I’m abnormal have we never had an incident of him flying out a door or window. But he gets to come and go as he pleases when we keep his cage door open, flying back and forth between my shoulder, my wife’s shoulder, or his house. We have to be even more vigilant now that we have a curious baby reaching for him!
The Bible says that “a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast” in Proverbs 12:10. I’ve always tried to do that. Someone told me that “once you have kids, your pets truly become pets.” That’s been true to a degree, but we still love Scooter tremendously and I always look forward to that first chirp in the morning. I thank God for Scooter and look forward to ten more years!