Honestly, I still feel guilty about the circumstances around his adoption. We had just gotten a 2nd bird, and Boyfriend mentioned this fact at work.
His coworker was like "wait... you like birds? Want mine? You can have it for free. I got it for my kid and she's lost interest."
So boyfriend comes home and relays the message. At this point, it was unclear on whether we were even talking about a cockatiel or a cockatoo. Coworker didn't know which he had.
I said. "Well, we just got this 2nd bird, and I don't know if we can really handle a third. Let's see how things go before we promise anything."
So a month goes by, and 2nd bird is settling in nicely. Coworker re-ups the offer... still isn't sure if tiel or too (and my house is way too small for a too). So I say, "have him send you a picture."
And that's what he sent.
I took one glance and was like "ok, we're taking this bird today. I don't care if we have to turn right around and rehome him. We're getting him out of there immediately. "
But damn... a whole month. Here I was playing with my first bird and enjoying getting to know the second. Going to work. Walking the dogs. Sleeping in my comfy bed. Every moment of that time, while I was enjoying my happy little family, Charlie was sitting in that cramped, filthy cage with no foreseeable escape.
I could have gotten him out a month sooner.