Smokey the Wonder Budgie (or Budgie Butt): How I Survived a Dog Attack!

Budgie Butt right before Cage Cleaning!

Hi Humans, my name is Budgie Butt (previously known as Smokey) and I am a budgie. If you aren't familiar with that term, we are also called parakeets. I am a lovely smokey greyish purple color with lots of white. I'm not being boastful, my foster family told me I am lovely. I used to live with a family and then one day, out of the blue - I was attacked by a dog. It was horrible, painful and very, very scary. My legs, feet and wing were damaged and I will never really walk again but I love to hop! When my foster family took me in, I had exposed bone in both feet and protruding bone in my left ankle. They took me to a wonderful person called an Avian Vet who gave me pain medicine right away!! I was so happy and then a little sleepy. I hadn't had any medicine in the four weeks since I had been attacked. This had given me an infection and made me feel very sick. I stayed with those nice vet people for several days and had an operation to amputate a toe on my right foot and to remove bone from my left foot. Soon after, I went home with my new family who gave me four medications twice a day (I really didn't like it much at all). Two weeks ago, I had another operation to remove a little more dead bone from my left leg. This time I only stayed one night and went right back home! My foster family celebrated because this meant that my leg could finally finish healing. I live in a very nice condo now (single story because my feet don't work and I can't climb) but they have put in a handicap ramp and a viewing platform so I don't always have to be on the floor!! I love my food and haven't stopped eating since I came to live here.  The foster family is trying to help me get used to being held and I am really working hard to trust people. Sometimes I get scared because I think something is going to get me!! Foster mom says that it's okay and I will feel calmer every day.  My mom says that a lot of you nice humans gave money to help me get better, I wanted to say thank you. They couldn't have done it without you!

The tiny black dot is where they removed the protruding bone.

The amputated toe area.