The one and only Dobby. A racing pigeon that absconded almost 2 years ago and decided to create a new life for himself.

He came for his breakfast every day. Ate right out of my hand. Let himself in on many occasions and wandered round looking for the seed.

He had an injured leg and I couldn't bear to see him suffer so I contacted a local rescue and they came and collected him.

I will genuinely miss this bird so much, he brightened every single shift for me (which is needed when you're in the care sector). Literally shed a few tears when he went.

Gonna miss you pidge.

PS. When be first arrived I did attempt to find his owner, using the leg band and local groups. None was ever found though and he just kinda made himself at home.

by Abwettar

19 comments

  1. It’s a homing pigeon. It’ll be back. Don’t worry.

  4. I totally get it, daft as it might sound.

    The last two years, I’ve had a pidgey mate I nicknamed [**Scraggedy Anne**](https://i.imgur.com/nOY2bma.jpeg) (because she was always a bit in the wars and had knackered eyes). She’d come down when I went into the garden and potter about following me a bit patiently until I sat down and gave her a bit of seed.

    She suddenly disappeared at one point last summer, and I’ve not seen her since. I hold out some hope that she’ll reappear at some point, but I don’t think she will.

    I made a 3D model of her and now I include her as a little ‘signature’ in all of the D&D maps I make.

    * [**Scraggedy Anne – the 3D model**](https://imgur.com/a/8JdKrLq)

     

    Hope Dobby has a grand retirement.

     

    **E:** If you have a full-on pic and want a simple 3D model of him in the same vein as Scraggedy Anne, giz a shout. I can pop him in some maps if you want him dotted around for a few thousand people
    to try and spot.

  5. He might be back if he carries out a high coo at the rescue. In any event, get well soon wee man.

  7. If he makes it and be safely released, there’s no reason you can’t request him to be released near where he was found.

  9. Wish dobby the best, don’t be ashamed to contact the rescue to ask them about him, I’m pretty sure they’ll be happy to update you (once in a while). Ages ago my dad rescued an injured hedgehog, fed it and bonded with it, but had to contact a rescue eventually, as it was a non-domestic species. He called to ask about how he was doing (because he had to register the hedgehog, and his own data etc. in one of their books) and they were happy to update him. He underwent an operation but he survived in the end 🙂
    Wish you strength, OP!

  10. Pidgies are sadly maligned. They are beautiful, intelligent creatures, worthy of care and respect. It is perhaps surprising to many, how quickly we can become attached to them. I hate it when people disdain them, and call them flying rats. I take heart from the fact that Nikolai Tesla rescued and cared for them. A genius like him obviously recognized their worth.

  11. You’re a very kindhearted person OP, thank you for taking care of the wee thing. Beautiful bird.

  12. Naming a pigeon pidge is like naming a human hugh.

    Wait…

  13. We used to have one that came to the house called ‘Hop-Kirk’ one of my kids named him because he had a dodgy leg. Every morning he’d be there soon as we opened the curtains.
    He came for about 2 years, then one morning he never came. I miss him

  14. Awwww he’s beautiful. We have a pigeon family that nests on the sky dish rigging, this is their 6th year with us and from what we can tell cause around 8 squabs a season but it’s hard to tell due to where the nest is and the fact they leave the nest fully grown. The babies come back to our bird feeder and have similar markings to the parents so we can tell as much as an untrained pigeon watcher can!

  16. Imagine being on your work commute and just going off in a different direction and starting a whole new life for yourself.

    Dobby was living the dream. Respect.

  18. Why don’t you go collect him after his leg had been repaired? Why can’t he come back to you for rehoming?

    If you don’t volunteer, the rescue organisation might put him down. Far cheaper to kill than treat.

  19. I have a couple of co-workers I’m willing to donate. Only downside is their IQ might be slightly lower.

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