Pam in Richmond writes:
Hello Red! I have a question about my Moluccan Cockatoo, Tater. He was 9 years young, all boy, and very sweet and passionate. He was adorable and I miss him every day. One year ago (November, 15, 2008), I had to put him to sleep because the drugs the vets were giving him to stop him from seizing had messed his brain up and he was a candidate to be a vegetable or close to it. I had to make the horrible decision to go ahead and ‘release’ him from the damaged package that was his body. I can’t help but feel that I did the wrong thing or that I didn’t wait longer to see if his condition would change.
My heart actually hurts when I think about it. The vet ran tests, but they couldn’t find the problem. They gave him all sorts of antibiotics, valium, etc. — nothing presented itself. The only thing wrong was an area under his wing that he had picked at. I have no idea what was wrong and I feel like his life was taken from him by a group of misinformed, although well-meaning people, and it breaks my heart. What was wrong? Does he know just how much I loved him? Will he come back to me? If so, when and how? Thank You for answering this for me. Pam
Dear Pam,
I am so sorry for your loss. I can totally relate to your pain and heartache. But rest assured that Tater knew, and knows, how much you love and miss him. Don’t ever doubt that! He may not have understood everything that was going on, but he knew that you (and everybody else) were trying to help him.
Tater’s neurological problems seem as if they were caused by genetics. I don’t really think there was anything that could have been done for him. If there was, my guides aren’t sharing that information. His seizures, with or without medication, would have continued and progressively gotten worse. Unfortunately, it seems as if this poor baby of yours was never meant to have a long life. Your decision to have him put to sleep ultimately was merciful. Rest assured you did the right thing, as Tater wouldn’t have ever been the same. Waiting would have made things worse for him, not better.
Just so you know, Tater knows he’s moved on, and it felt right and natural to him. He doesn’t really seem to know that he was put to sleep — he just accepts that he transitioned.
Tater will come back to you, but in the form of a female dog. I’m not entirely certain of the “when,” (or why a dog) because it is ten-plus years away. But when a stray, white, fluffy mutt shows up at your door, you are likely to invite her (him) in to stay.
Red
Ext. 9226
