Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/cockatoo-new-family/

Getting adopted by a human isn’t always good news for the animal. Some people cannot fully commit to the responsibility. They’d think that basic needs are already sufficient to ensure the animal’s survival. Humans must understand that nurturing a pet requires physical and emotional attention. Those who failed to commit either abandon the animal or completely neglect them in their cage. Pets are hurt when they feel unloved and uncared for. Experiencing that for a long time can bring trauma which is the root cause of their distrust towards humans. If you cannot be there for them, it’s best to give them away or reach out to a rescue center. The only good thing a neglectful household could give the animal is freedom and hope.

Animals that had a traumatic experience are entitled to start their lives again. They need to be given extra attention in rescue centers and adopted by genuine people. However, it’ll be challenging to accompany an animal while it’s in its healing phase. They are defensive and would most likely attack you. For this reason, animals with sad backstories need a family like Edgar the cockatoo has. Alex gave his feathered friend the life that he deserved. Edgar’s previous owner neglected him, and they ended up selling the cockatoo. He was only kept in a budgie cage — one that painfully restricted him.

“We have like local classifieds. I was looking for an amplifier at the time but he came up as a local recommendation. It was a really sad picture of him in the budgie cage.” Alex explained. “He was really malnourished. They hadn’t given him a name. They had him for quite some time and they didn’t even give him the dignity of a name.” Right from the start, the previous owner was already a red flag. It’s like they did not want to make any deep connection with the cockatoo. That’s why Alex decided to take action and initially planned to give him a home for a week and then consult a foster care center. But the plan didn’t push through because, it turns out, they were the right family for Edgar.

Alex loved him despite the defensive behavior, which is rooted in Edgar’s trauma. The family was patient with the cockatoo, and it was all worth it when he gradually softened to them. “It’s taken months and months and months for him to become, I think his true self.” Alex shared. During Edgar’s healing journey, the new family identified what he might have gone through based on his behavior. For instance, the cockatoo doesn’t know how to play with toys. Perhaps he wasn’t introduced to having fun until Alex’s girlfriend taught him how to play. In the past he was locked up in a budgie cage, but now Edgar is free and has countless toys to indulge in. It was a much-needed upgrade — undoubtedly life-changing.

Apart from not knowing how to play, Edgar became a flightless bird. He was locked up for too long that he couldn’t spread his wings, which was extremely saddening for a bird. Nevertheless, Edgar still enjoys life — hopping around and freer than ever before. Through the love and care he received from his new family; Edgar is now completely far from the bird in the cage. Thankfully, Alex saw the cockatoo in the local recommendations. It’s as if fate’s way of leading them to each other — the hope Edgar has been silently waiting for when he felt alone back then. Alex has shared many things about Edgar and you’ll definitely be happy for their family. Because although Alex saved Edgar, the cockatoo also brought extra happiness to his new family. Witness their lovely story below.

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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog