IslandVibesIOP.com 22 March 17 will forever hold a special place in my heart, having been rescued on this special Irish holiday from the junkyard I found myself unfortunately residing in just two short years ago. I can scarcely remember the time when I didn’t know what a house or an island or (gasp) what a warm sweater was. Now I have my own bed – four to be precise – couch, car seat, bicycle basket and beach chair, along with two adorably obedient humans who graciously remain at my beck and call. I shall be forever grateful for the opportunity to write for you, my dear readers, furry friends and fans, and I pledge to continue to use my platform for the betterment of this fair isle on which we reside, be it not of the Gaelic variety. Whether your Saint Patrick’s Day (see, a stubborn dog can learn new tricks) consists of consuming corned beef and cabbage, ‘splitting the G’ at a local pub, wearing a touch or more of green, thereby preventing a pinch to your flesh or searching for four-leaf clovers in the fields of Athenry, please stay safe, be courteous and may the luck of the Irish forever bless your heart and paws. Sláinte Doozer has never been the type of bird that blends into the background. Beyond her bright feathers and expressive eyes, this girl was built for the spotlight. She is a seasoned local celebrity by day and a yellow-naped Amazon companion bird by night. Her personality is as beautifully bold as her feathers and she touts an impressive resume that includes pirate adventures and treasure hunts. Parrots are among the longest living pets, commonly reaching 60-80 years old, with some larger species surpassing 100. Doozer is currently in her 50s and although she likely has plenty more years ahead, she has already lived a lifetime of stories. She was rescued 16 years ago by Sabrina and Eric Lavender after her original owner passed away. Since then, she’s been living the kind of life that every rescue parrot with a pirate soul dreams of. The Lavenders are the founders of Charleston Pirate Tours, a fun-filled business launched in 2009. Their engaging storytelling and passion for history has since turned the business into a local favorite. While their earliest tours catered mainly to adults hungry for historical detail, they soon noticed many guests bringing children, who (understandably), were less thrilled about two straight hours of historical facts. With that, the couple added a new branch of tours to their repertoire and created interactive treasure hunt tours designed especially for young adventurers. On these family-friendly excursions, each child receives a pirate bandana, a balloon animal parrot and even their own sword – but don’t panic, they’re inflatable. The young pirates follow a treasure map through historic landmarks, learning along the way before finally discovering a hidden chest. With Sabrina dressed in full pirate regalia, you will occasionally find Doozer perched proudly on her shoulder, stealing the show like the seasoned performer she is. At home, Doozer shares her kingdom with her brother Bob, a blue and gold macaw. These birds are brilliant creatures, with research comparing some parrots’ intelligence such as the African grey parrot to that of a 4 or 5-year-old child. Both Doozer and Bob speak plenty of English, chattering back and forth throughout the day. Clever, curious and intensely social animals, they are not the right pet for everyone, demanding extraordinary amounts of time, stimulation and care. They need particular diets, specialized avian vets, ample toys, puzzles and 10-12 hours of sleep each night. As Sabrina joked, “It’s just like having a cranky toddler, except this one has a can opener on its face.” Veterinary care for parrots can be costly, but her family considers it a small price to pay for the joy she brings. Their home reflects that devotion, with entire rooms dedicated to their birds and enclosures that could rival small zoo habitats. Check out charlestonpiratetour.com to experience the fun for yourself and if you’re lucky, you might even catch Doozer on duty! TO BE FRANK Saint Pawtrick’s Day Pet of the Month Doozer the pirate parrot By Allyah Harrar PEOPLE & PETS -FRANK To be frank, Saint Pawtrick’s Day traditions are some of my favorites. My apologies for the slight mispronunciation, my dear Saint Patrick. For instance, wool sweaters? Love! Green tennis balls? Adore! Rainbows ending with a pot of gold? Spectacular! Fish and chips? Do I really need to comment on this fried delight? What I don’t understand about this particular glorious feast day is the propensity of humans to cause trouble, make mischief and embark on careless, useless and mindless shenanigans. For example, the consumption of green beer will forever confound me, especially given that green food coloring is neither appetizing nor nutritious. The notion that one could potentially trap a leprechaun is also on my list of futile practices because first of all, why trap a perfectly jovial, merry, peaceful creature? And secondly, do said trappers of such fairytale characters not realize that leprechauns are merely make believe? I digress. Lady Sabrina Lavender and her sidekick Doozer
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