Several years ago, I boarded an umbrella cockatoo in my home many times. I remember him and his owner very well -- he always had pink lipstick marks on the white feathers of his forehead from his doting human's kisses.... There was no question in my mind that this bird was totally adored.
Then one day, the owner's husband phoned to ask me to help find a home for the bird. I was stunned, then realized the sound I could hear was the owner sobbing in the background. The husband explained briefly that the parrot -- for the first time in the many years she'd had him -- had just bitten his mistress. He said she was so upset because she felt the bite was proof the bird didn't love her anymore.
I tried valiantly to get her to talk to me, to explain that these things happen, and to not get rid of a beloved pet of many years just because of one incident.... But she was too upset to even talk to me. The husband promised to give her my message and to ask her to call me when she calmed down.
I never heard from her again....http://www3.upatsix.com/liz/articles/personally.html
