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African parrot stolen from family carport
By TAMARA LUSH
© St. Petersburg Times, HUDSON -- Zazu the African grey parrot had an extensive vocabulary. He bid his owner farewell ("bye-bye"), offered simple commands when he was hungry ("supper!") and called the family dog ("Come here, Jarrett"). But there was one word that Zazu didn't know how to say. "Help."
"I was shaking, I was crying," said Lisa Dussell, 40, a veterinary assistant at the SPCA in New Port Richey. "He's my baby." The 6-year-old bird was in his cage, on a wooden table, when he was stolen. The bird could not fly because his wings were clipped. Dussell has been leaving the pet on the carport in the summer for about four years, and always felt the bird was safe there. She bought Zazu in Miami. He was named after the bird in the movie The Lion King. She hand-fed Zazu as a baby and taught him how to whistle the Andy Griffith Show theme. African grey parrots usually bond to one person, and Zazu was no exception. He was very loving with Dussell, but would nip at her husband. The life span of an African grey parrot is 50 to 65 years. According to bird experts, the African grey actually can understand and use human language. The birds are worth about $1,000. Dussell said that after her bird was stolen, she called all of the local pet stores, to alert them in case the bird-napper tried to sell Zazu. "I just want him back, no questions asked," said Dussell. "I don't care who has got him. I just hope they're not hurting him." -- Tamara Lush is the police reporter in Pasco County. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6245 or toll free at (800) 333-7505, ext. 6245. Her e-mail address is lush@sptimes.com.
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