Billy

I'm afraid I have some rather sad news. Our beloved pet Billy the budgie passed away early on Tuesday morning.

He fell ill on Monday night and we did our best to keep him comfortable. My Mum and Dad stayed up with him and we think he died at around 3am.

He found us in April 2002 when he was flying round at my Dad's work. By morning he was hungry and exhausted so my Dad bought him home where he's been ever since. We advertised for his owners but no one came forward to claim him.

He's been all over the country in my Mum and Dad's caravan and he enjoyed a trip in the car very much, whistling all the way. He also enjoyed music and whistled along to whatever we had on or whatever was on the telly.

Some people laugh when you tell them you have a budgie. When our last budgie had to be put to sleep people laughed when I told them. The reality was, the hours leading up to going to the vets we're horrendous, no one would want to see their animal in that way and I'm sure they wouldn't have liked it if they were on the receiving end of their jibes. I wouldn't laugh if anyones pet is put to sleep.

Our home is a rather quiet and a sad place at the moment. My only thoughts are that we saved his life once when he was starving and had no one to look after him, we weren't able to help him again. But while he was here with us we made sure he had a wonderful life.