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 lcatraz
is a wonder bird because she has suffered tremendous physical
hardships and has overcome them all! Alcatraz came to me with only one
functioning leg. She had suffered an accident with her previous owners
and the leg was never set correctly. At most she could use it to lean
on. She knew only the confines of the space in her cage, but was
extremely inquisitive about exploring new potentials. She soon had
mastery of the house and would fly from room to room in search of
companionship or interesting observations.
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lcatraz,
with her one working leg - has had that good leg broken four times.
The first time, she broke her good leg , it was in two places. |
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Her original owner
kept insisting that she be "put down" as her quality of life
would suffer too greatly - but between my belief that the owner should
be "put down" first, and the most wonderful, intelligent and
humane doctor, Alactraz was spared - and healed very well - going back
to a quality of life she had been enjoying before the breaks -
roosting on her perch, sitting on top of doors, and causing mischief
under foot and over head! |
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lcatraz
had to endure about five weeks of bondage to heal - she was an
invalid, unable to take care of herself in any basic way. But with the
help of an excellent nurse, Helen, and lots of attention, she came out
fine. She soon learned how to work around the bandaged limb, and to
enjoy herself - like discovering the pleasures of fresh peas. |
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The second time
Alcatraz broke her "good" leg, was when she was practicing
her impression of a fireman sliding down a firepole - she used to
slide down the cage bars into her front door - and managed to cause a
spiral break on one of the recent fractures. Amazing as she is,
Alcatraz laid the first of two eggs while under anesthesia having her
leg set! |
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This time the
excellent nurse, Helen, was nursing her husband (Eugene) in Detroit,
so Alcatraz had to travel with me to work in Chicago- to conduct LIDO
training. She found United airline's first class service full of
wonderful edibles, snoozed during the limo ride to the client's
campus, and amused herself by occasionally performing a "fly by"
over LIDO's entertained class. |
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But this time, life on
the perch became and issue, and Alcatraz learned to become a ground
dweller. Being incredibly inquisitive, Alcatraz keeps herself
entertained with many toys. She absolutely knows what a gift is, and
once it has been introduced into her home, even if she initially hates
it, it is hers - and do not try to touch it!!! Alcatraz also spends a
good deal of time with interior design. Being one of nature's more
imaginative nest builders, she uses her feathers, pieces of paper and
ribbon, tiny toys, and balls to constantly redecorate the interior of
her home. |
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Not only does Alcatraz
keep her house clean - she actually calls for a trip to the outhouse -
she insists on frequent baths and blow drys! She so much likes to
bathe, that we are compelled to leave a bowl of water for her on the
counter so she can splash about. Once in her quest for cleanliness,
she took a bath in a bowl of cream of mushroom soup! |
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About 9 months after
her second broken leg, in a horrible accident, Alcatraz's wing was
fractured in multiple places. Again, bondage, this time a figure eight
bandage. Not enough to stop her from wanting to enjoy her morning
coffee. |
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With about a year of
self imposed physical therapy, today Alcatraz once again flies, enjoys
short bouts of "toro" (her bullfight impression) and loves
to "play ball" - with two balls at a time! |
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Major international
travel is little beyond Alcatraz's scope, so she summons a very
special friend to take care of her. Alcatraz and Eugene start each
morning with a breakfast meeting (probably reviewing the days sports
programming). |
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But after a long day
of playing ball, decorating house, rearranging toys, watching TV, and
partaking of all meals and snack times, Alcatraz loves nothing more
than to climb into bed for a little relaxing time, lying on her back
with her feet up in the air. |
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