- Species: African Grey - Congo (See species list for details)
- Location: Great Falls, Virginia, United States 22066
- Date Lost: June 12, 2006
- Banded: Yes
- Microchipped: Don't Know
My husband and I have been searching for Owen, our Congo African Grey, since June 13, 2006. Owen was banded on his right leg with a silver-colored band bearing the inscriptions “FL” and “00” which are followed by other letters and numbers, which I will be happy to give you if you found, purchased or rescued a Grey over the last 18 years. If Owen is part of your family now, we will not take him from you. We just want to know what may have happened to him, and that he is alive and safe.
Owen was fully flighted and could be almost anywhere by now. His vocabulary will have changed over the years of our search, and he may have been been transported anywhere, away from Great Falls, Virginia, by his finders. But he will still love to whistle show tunes and speak well. Owen could say “hello” in several voices, depending on whether he was answering the phone, welcoming you at the door, or calling from upstairs; he would say “bye” and blow a kiss whenever anyone left, said “see you tonight” or “I’ll be back soon,” when he knew we were getting ready to go out. He called me “Sara,” “Peep” or “Peeper,” called our three dogs by name (Tiggers, Kiwi and Nandi), called my husband by name (Doug) and loved to laugh in my voice. He would say, “Wanna hop up” when he wanted to come out of his cage.
Owen and I were inseparable until he flew away from Doug and out the kitchen door while I was co-leading a student tour to India and the Himalayas. Poor Doug and poor Owen. I don’t think we will ever stop searching. We distributed 5,000 leaflets in the McLean/Great Falls area and mailed all AAHA Animal hospitals in the tri-state area. I was in Bhutan when Owen flew off and made it home in 3 days and went straight into the woods to search. We knew it seemed insane, but we even
hired an animal communicator too. There were many leads … a tree whose apples were clearly being pillaged by a parrot, judging from the bite marks. There were calls about sightings for months. And then time passed. We know he may be dead. But he was so incredibly smart and alert, and such a strong flier. Our hope is that he came down to someone who may have given him a new home and family.
If you think you have found Owen or may know what happened to him, please let us know. We would be so grateful. It has been so many years, but Owen is still in our hearts. If he is a treasured member of your family now, we would pay $500 just to see him, if the band numbers match. If you would like to reunite us
a $10,000 reward is offered.
Phone: 703-887-5553
Email: sara.cleveland@gmail.com.