I've been posting on the QP boards because I got a new "baby" a month ago. But I couldn't bring myself to post a tribute to my former bird until now, and even after more than a month it still hurts.
Bradley was my baby for almost 15 years. He was my first bird, a cockatiel from Petsmart that I purchased without realizing the different between hand tamed and not (he was NOT). Thus we embarked on a training process that earned me many nipped fingers, until he eventually did step up like a pro and learned to love being outside his cage.
We left him free flighted because we have three cats and there was little chance of escape at our old house (a condo). He was out almost 24/7 and very cat-savvy (one of my favorite memories is of him flying into the kitchen, biting my elderly cat in the butt to drive her away from her water bowl, and then jumping in for a bath!!!). He spent every evening sitting on the couch with me. He hated petting, yet he still always wanted to be close.
Then we moved to FL to a house with no screen doors. He was already 10 so I didn't want to start clipping his wings. If he flew towards the door, we would hear him coming and not open it. But one day I was coming in, and for the first time ever he flew at the door and somehow made it out, even tho' I started closing it as soon as I heard him. If only I HADN'T closed it, he probably would have circled back, which was his habit. But he must have hit the closing door, panicked, and disappeared.
We did postings etc. with no luck, and I finally accepted he was gone. Since there was no clear cut closure, I got the QP as a second-hand way of achieving it. Now Truman is in Bradley's cage, albeit with all new toys etc. and I am starting to love him for himself rather than as a replacement (it was amazing how quiet the house was without a bird and how much I hated that).
But every now and then I will see a shadow by the couch and think for a moment that it's my little Bradley. I still feel guilty, like I betrayed him somehow, although I've reached acceptance. I'm glad he was in my life...Bradley, you are missed and loved.
Full Version: Okay, I Think I Can Finally Post About Bradley Now
So very sorry for our loss. 
Those are always hard to over come. Time will help though.
Those are always hard to over come. Time will help though.
I am very sorry for your loss
hugs
IMPy
hugs
IMPy
Hugs ..we learn to live with the pain ..with time it dulls a little but for me and many others the pain will never go away ..
I wish I could help with words but I know I can`t just know you are not alone with your sadness in loosing a loved fid/critter they get right into our hearts and mean the world.....
I wish I could help with words but I know I can`t just know you are not alone with your sadness in loosing a loved fid/critter they get right into our hearts and mean the world.....
All we can do in a situation like that is pray that someone found him, took him in and treated him well. That IS a possibility. I'm glad you found a baby, not to replace him, but to fill the hole left in your heart!
Be blessed.
Be blessed.
I'm am very sorry for your loss.
Big hugs.
Big hugs.
Similar situation for me ... my Chipper (tiel) managed to fly out the door late September. I too heard her coming and tried to shut the door, grabbed for her, managed to pull a couple feathers so I had my fingers on her, but not enough to grab her and pull her back. I called her, put her cage outside, put her best friend outside (another of my tiels), put up flyers, drove around, rode around searching for her for weeks, but did not find her.
Now that it has definitely turned winter, all I can hope for is that she found another family to love her ... I can't bear the thoughts of what else could have happened to her.
I feel your sadness and pain ... Truman is NOT a replacement, none could ever be - but he will make his own place in your heart.
(((HUGZ)))
Now that it has definitely turned winter, all I can hope for is that she found another family to love her ... I can't bear the thoughts of what else could have happened to her.
I feel your sadness and pain ... Truman is NOT a replacement, none could ever be - but he will make his own place in your heart.
(((HUGZ)))
Thanks so much to everyone for the kind words. It was so ironic...I am a counselor and freelance writer and had written an article for Dog Fancy mag. about grieving. Within a week Bradley was gone and I was grieving myself! Because of my profession I know logically how to go through the process but that never makes it easier when you lose a beloved pet.
But at least my sweet little Truman is hanging on the bars of his cage and making silly noises and making me laugh; he's not my old boy, but I'm still grateful to have him in my life now. Perhaps that is the one good thing to come from Brad's loss. I will miss him always, but it brought my new little guy into my life.
But at least my sweet little Truman is hanging on the bars of his cage and making silly noises and making me laugh; he's not my old boy, but I'm still grateful to have him in my life now. Perhaps that is the one good thing to come from Brad's loss. I will miss him always, but it brought my new little guy into my life.
I'm so sorry about Bradley. You loved him so much and had him for a long time. It must hurt so bad. Cockatiels are pretty good at finding people when they escape so even though nobody responded to your flyers, it doesn't mean he's not sitting in a nice home right now being loved. Sometimes people just don't see the flyers or pay attention. they just think they found a bird and decide to keep it. They usually don't realize people love that bird and are looking for it. Congratulations on your new quaker. He's found himself a good home
tikileahsmom
tikileahsmom
QUOTE (truman @ Dec 16 2007, 06:46 PM) 
I've been posting on the QP boards because I got a new "baby" a month ago. But I couldn't bring myself to post a tribute to my former bird until now, and even after more than a month it still hurts.
Bradley was my baby for almost 15 years. He was my first bird, a cockatiel from Petsmart that I purchased without realizing the different between hand tamed and not (he was NOT). Thus we embarked on a training process that earned me many nipped fingers, until he eventually did step up like a pro and learned to love being outside his cage.
We left him free flighted because we have three cats and there was little chance of escape at our old house (a condo). He was out almost 24/7 and very cat-savvy (one of my favorite memories is of him flying into the kitchen, biting my elderly cat in the butt to drive her away from her water bowl, and then jumping in for a bath!!!). He spent every evening sitting on the couch with me. He hated petting, yet he still always wanted to be close.
Then we moved to FL to a house with no screen doors. He was already 10 so I didn't want to start clipping his wings. If he flew towards the door, we would hear him coming and not open it. But one day I was coming in, and for the first time ever he flew at the door and somehow made it out, even tho' I started closing it as soon as I heard him. If only I HADN'T closed it, he probably would have circled back, which was his habit. But he must have hit the closing door, panicked, and disappeared.
We did postings etc. with no luck, and I finally accepted he was gone. Since there was no clear cut closure, I got the QP as a second-hand way of achieving it. Now Truman is in Bradley's cage, albeit with all new toys etc. and I am starting to love him for himself rather than as a replacement (it was amazing how quiet the house was without a bird and how much I hated that).
But every now and then I will see a shadow by the couch and think for a moment that it's my little Bradley. I still feel guilty, like I betrayed him somehow, although I've reached acceptance. I'm glad he was in my life...Bradley, you are missed and loved.
Bradley was my baby for almost 15 years. He was my first bird, a cockatiel from Petsmart that I purchased without realizing the different between hand tamed and not (he was NOT). Thus we embarked on a training process that earned me many nipped fingers, until he eventually did step up like a pro and learned to love being outside his cage.
We left him free flighted because we have three cats and there was little chance of escape at our old house (a condo). He was out almost 24/7 and very cat-savvy (one of my favorite memories is of him flying into the kitchen, biting my elderly cat in the butt to drive her away from her water bowl, and then jumping in for a bath!!!). He spent every evening sitting on the couch with me. He hated petting, yet he still always wanted to be close.
Then we moved to FL to a house with no screen doors. He was already 10 so I didn't want to start clipping his wings. If he flew towards the door, we would hear him coming and not open it. But one day I was coming in, and for the first time ever he flew at the door and somehow made it out, even tho' I started closing it as soon as I heard him. If only I HADN'T closed it, he probably would have circled back, which was his habit. But he must have hit the closing door, panicked, and disappeared.
We did postings etc. with no luck, and I finally accepted he was gone. Since there was no clear cut closure, I got the QP as a second-hand way of achieving it. Now Truman is in Bradley's cage, albeit with all new toys etc. and I am starting to love him for himself rather than as a replacement (it was amazing how quiet the house was without a bird and how much I hated that).
But every now and then I will see a shadow by the couch and think for a moment that it's my little Bradley. I still feel guilty, like I betrayed him somehow, although I've reached acceptance. I'm glad he was in my life...Bradley, you are missed and loved.
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