Cats and Dogs and Birds!
Bevy of Birdhome aviaries are a joy the communities provide for their residents. Some communities allow residents to have their own pets. In cases where this occurs, the birds are not only amusing to the residents, but also excite and entertain the non-feathered animals.
When I arrive on site to service a community’s aviary, I may be greeted by the barking of happy golden retrievers, terriers, and chihuahuas. They meet me (and my cart of equipment) at the door with wagging tails and lolling tongues. Most often, I’m met by cats, coyly rubbing against my leg, then curiously scanning my supplies for anything interesting that can be used for play.
I have to keep a close eye on the birds, who wait in their small temporary cages, while I beautify their larger permanent home. Otherwise, a sneaky feline may stalk over and harass them. Some of these kitties are so quiet, I wouldn’t realize what they’re up to, were it not for the alarmed chirping of the birds. Oddly enough, despite my alertness, I don’t have to worry too much about the kitties. Much of the time they will give up on attacking, and just observe their feathered friends. They will sometimes lazily wander away and come back to test for improved accessibility, only to find conditions are unchanged and they are out of luck.
It is the dogs however, that are bound to raise a clamor. Even the aforementioned golden retrievers will claw and bat at the cages to see if they can’t pry one open. If left to themselves, these dogs would undoubtedly knock and shove the cages all over the facility until the birds were released, and to the dog’s disappointment, able to fly away to safety.
The fiercest predator to the birds that I have come across thus far, is a brown and black chihuahua with a warriors’ heart. She walks nicely on her leash with her owner, until she spots the birds in their wire cage. Once her eyes lock on to them, no one can sway her attention. In an explosion of excitement and with instincts like that of an apex predator, the little dog lunges at the birds. Often her retractable leash will allow her to reach them, rattling the cage and barking up a storm. While mom fumbles to reign in her feisty pup, I move in to pick up the cage. The birds are understandably disgruntled, but most of them seem to know that they can’t be reached through the metal bars and calm themselves on a perch inside their protected fortress.
It is always nice to see how animals interact with each other. We get to see their primal instincts kick in, and the joy they get from the mental stimulation the birds bring about in them. It’s also hilarious to watch the crazy and (often) poorly thought out plans they come up with to try and obtain the birds; a real-life game of Tom and Jerry.
