UK NEWS

BIRD DOG RUFFLES A FEW FEATHERS

A cockatoo

Saturday July 26,2008

By Paul Gilbride

A cockatoo is barking mad – because he thinks he is a dog.

Jo Jo howls when he spots a passing car or if anyone comes to the door and tries to
out-bark the family’s Jack Russell terrier.

The bird’s last owners got rid of him because of his split personality.

The three-year-old medium silver-crested cockatoo was brought up with a Chihuahua.
Because he’s an incredible mimic, the bird took lessons from the noisy dog.

Whenever he barked Jo Jo would do the same. But he took to it so well his owners took the sad decision to get rid of him.

Now new owner Maggie Packer is desperately trying to solve Jo Jo’s problems. Maggie, 58, from Culsalmond, in Aberdeenshire, said: “He’s absolutely crazy.

As soon as the bell rings, he’ll start barking to get my attention just like a little dog

Maggie Packer

“As soon as the bell rings, he’ll start barking to get my attention just like a little dog.

“We tried keeping him in the living room, but it got too much – he was always trying to get our attention, squawking and barking.”

Maggie regularly takes in unwanted birds so the cockatoo’s original owners gave her Jo Jo.

He’s now the loudest member of the household, even out-performing Johnston, the Jack Russell.

Maggie said: “We have trained the dog not to bark any more. But Jo Jo more than makes up for him.”