Guest Post by Nicole Smith

I have two really special foster pigeons who need homes: Baby Dion and Reggie. Both are recovering from broken wings.

Pigeons make incredibly good companions. They love being inside and with their people, and they also love living in a group in an outdoor aviary. They don’t need much to be happy. I worry 24/7 about my horse, dog, and partner and whether they are happy and their needs are met, but I never worry for a second that these guys aren’t living just fantastic lives. Pigeons give so so much more than they ask for. And then they give a little more.

 

Baby Dion is a bundle of cute. He is outgoing, curious, joyful, and excessively charming. When he wants to get in his little bed, he does so with a BIG hop (even though it’s ground level and he could just step in) and snuggles in with the maximum amount of peace and serenity. When he wants to be let out of his cage, he demands it from me with lots of bell ringing and tapping around. When he is out of his cage, he explores all of the surroundings, quickly learning different routes to get around despite his temporarily limited mobility. He is fearless and adventurous, and he always looks like he’s on an urgent mission, even if that mission is to be as comfortable and cozy as possible. He loves attacking his bell toy and throwing his food everywhere. He likes to sit close to me. And have you seen his darling feet? Baby Dion could not be more precious.

Reggie is a very sweet roller pigeon full of personality that shines through despite a wing injury and poor body condition. Little Reggie is cute as a button and a good snuggler. Once healed up, Reggie will make a fantastic addition to a safe and loving home.

Chris and I never expected to become pigeon people, but I can’t tell you how much better our lives are now that we are. Just yesterday, after a sh***y day at work, Chris came into our place (16 hours after his shift started) and went urgently and immediately into the aviary. Within minutes he said everything felt much better. They’re feel-good creatures. And it’s not because they’re dumb – they are actually incredibly intelligent (look it up). I think they just *want* to be happy. And they find a way to do it. They are super social. They are “masters of the leisure arts.” They are playful and curious. They have deeply loving relationships with their lifelong partners. They just do things right. If you are a little curious about what life with a pigeon is like, let me know. I would be more than happy to coach and help any friend who might want to adopt a pigeon. And I can tell you that Baby Dion and Reggie are fantastic pigeons to adopt. They have very different personalities (all pigeons do), so please ask me any questions you would like to about these guys (or about pigeon companionship in general). Email Nicole