Animal Companions

I have always had pets. As a little girl, I had hamsters, turtles, and family dogs. When I first moved into the city, I chose cats as pets. I was never home enough to have a dog. I have had a number of wonderful cats over the years. One of my favorites was Buster, who lived to be 25 years old. He died the second week of COVID, and his loss was keenly felt. But one pet was never enough companionship, so my menagerie would grow.  Parakeets became regular companions. My first birds were an Elegant Grass Parakeet and a pair of Bourke Parakeets, which are famous for their pink plumage. Budgies followed, and I have had an aviary for 30 years.  I keep a small flock of four, the perfect number. More than that is much too noisy, and less is not as entertaining. Other animals have found their way into my home, including rescued guinea pigs and turtles.  Most recently, I fostered a dog named Putnam for nine months. However, adoption is not an option for now.  I want to travel before I go on dialysis or have my transplant and once I am on anti-rejection medications, I am not supposed to be around animal feces for three months.  That means no picking up after dogs or cleaning a litter box or bird cage.