Pepper - Amazing Amazons

Name: Pepper
Species: Blue Fronted Amazon
Age: Over 20

History:

I got Pepper as an adult from a pet store in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was sold to me as a dangerous bird. Indeed, that was an understatement.

He bit me every day for 18 months. He bit through my lip, nearly got my eye and left my arms with scars from my wrists to my elbows. He would force me to the ground where he would pull chunks of flesh from my scalp. Why did I keep him? Well, I paid $1,000 for him about 20 years ago when Blue Fronts were selling for under $350. I knew he was an outstanding animal and would be a great companion if I survived his aggression. I would be ready to return him to the store, and then he would do something so cute that I would say to myself, "I'll keep him one more day." This went on for 18 months after which time the biting became less and less.

Now he is held by children as young as 2 years of age at the preschools where The Amazing Amazons perform. He is an outstanding performer that truly seems to enjoy his work. He loves training sessions and is always eager to perform and is my best friend.

A Cute Moment:

When I first got Pepper as an adult, he followed me into my kitchen and saw some paper grocery bags. He said, "Put the bird in a sack." I called his former owner (the store had the owner contact me since I was having so much trouble with Pepper). She had traded him to the store for several parakeets and their cages. She told me that Pepper loved to be put in a paper sack and rocked. I then would put him in a sack and rock him almost every day.

Several days later he was out of his cage while I was cleaning it. Sitting on the hearth of the fireplace he called out, "Put the bird in a sack!" "No, not now," I replied. With more feeling he again stated, "Put the bird in a sack!!!" I was still in a hurry and I told him, "No later."

In a flash he charged off the hearth, grabbed me in the leg, and through clenched beak muttered, "Put the bird in a sack!!" He bit through a pair of jeans, long johns, and a pair of wool socks. (This was in Fairbanks, Alaska in the winter.) That was almost 20 years ago and I still have the scar.