Chrissy

On Monday, May 5, 2008, at 4:00pm, Elaine Menna died. Who is Elaine Menna you well may ask?

 Elaine Menna, a widow in her late eighties, was a former fashion designer and photographer. She was an intelligent woman, a peacetime veteran and a parrot lover of many years. She and her constant companion of fifteen years, Chrissy, a Moluccan Cockatoo hen, were subjects of a fair bit of media attention two years ago.

 In August of 2005, apparently estranged from her few remaining relatives, and without a home for herself and Chrissy, Elaine surrendered Chrissy to the Toronto Humane Society (THS) with the mistaken belief that the THS would care for Chrissy until she could find them a place to live. However, a few days later when she returned to get Chrissy, she was told that she had signed an irrevocable surrender. They would not return Chrissy to Elaine.

Elaine sought legal advice and took the THS to court to get Chrissy back. The THS cited Chrissy’s poor condition (plucked and with an open sore under one wing) and concerns about her future care as their primary reason for not returning Chrissy to Elaine. Elaine, on the other hand, produced many receipts for Chrissy’s visits to one of the best avian veterinarians in the area, as proof that Chrissy’s condition was not the result of poor care. The THS produced Chrissy’s foster caregiver, a THS staff member, to testify about Chrissy’s improved health and happiness in foster care. Elaine testified about Chrissy’s need for a knowledgeable and experienced caregiver and her own distress and loneliness without Chrissy. Nine months later in May 2007, Ontario Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Stewart ordered the THS to return Chrissy to her previous owner Elaine Menna along with $10,000 in damages.

Over the course of that week, media coverage of the case seemed to galvanize the general public into two camps, both feverish with indignation. On one hand, supporters of the THS condemned Elaine Menna for obviously providing substandard care for Chrissy, who, in photos, could have been the poster girl for plucked bald, mutilating parrots. On the other hand were pet owners and parrot caregivers who understood the special relationship that existed between Elaine and Chrissy or who had experienced the complexities involved in feather destructive behaviour (FDB). The photo in the Toronto Star of Elaine driving away from the courthouse with Chrissy “riding shotgun” on her shoulder simply solidified the opposing positions.

 Enter Dahlijah Rahm, President of the Budgerigar and Foreign Bird Society, an internationally recognized hookbill judge and successful parrot breeder. One day in October, 2007, Dahlijah received a telephone call from Elaine Menna. Elaine requested Dahlijah’s assistance in finding just the right home for Chrissy. At that time, she was concerned that her age and deteriorating health were preventing her from giving Chrissy the care that she should. Dahlijah agreed to help Elaine and, on October 17^th, contacted me to see if we, my husband Lorne and me, would consider adopting Chrissy.

This was not an easy decision for us. With 14 birds in residence already, we not only didn’t need another bird, we had agreed that there would be no more birds for us. I also felt strongly that Bertie, our 14 year old Moluccan hen, also with FDB, needed a compatible companion of the same species. And the decision was made that yes, we’d be willing to adopt Chrissy.

 Over the next six months, Elaine and I spoke several times on the telephone. Each time, she reviewed my “parrot” credentials and talked about Chrissy’s routines, habits and needs. She left me with the impression that both her memory and physical health were continuing to deteriorate. And I soon realized that Chrissy was all that Elaine had left to care about and her love for that bird superseded Chrissy’s need for better care. However, also developing over that six months was a warm and trusting friendship between Dahlijah and Elaine. Dahlijah helped Elaine to get her affairs in order, cleaning and organizing Elaine’s small apartment, and caring for Chrissy during Elaine’s several hospitalizations, always ready to deliver Chrissy to us when Elaine gave her the word, but not a minute before. Soon both Dahlijah and I realized that Elaine simply could not give Chrissy up while there was a chance of being with her for even a day or two. Dahlijah and I decided that this situation could continue no longer. Chrissy’s sores would begin to heal and Elaine would take her back. When Dahlijah got Chrissy the next time, the sores would be ripped open again. It was heartbreaking for Dahlijah and unfair to Chrissy. However, Elaine’s time with Chrissy ran out with her most recent hospitalization. And shortly before her death, she arranged for Chrissy to join us.

 Today, Chrissy is in her own cage in our kitchen nook for now. She has fresh water, a bowl of mixed pellets, nuts and seeds and a bowl of fresh fruits, vegetables and greens. She is easily startled, reserved with Lorne and I and makes no attempt to bite. As much as possible we are respecting her comfort zone and making no demands of her. That will happen soon enough as it is. She has an appointment with her and our avian veterinarian tomorrow for a check up and some grooming. Then she can take as much time as she needs to get to know and trust us and Bertie…and heal.

 Rest in peace, Elaine.

 

May 2008