The Parrot Who Thought She Was a Dog

by Nancy Ellis-Bell

The last thing Nancy Ellis-Bell expected to descend on her life was a neglected, too-tall, smart-mouthed, one-legged, blue-and-gold rescue macaw named Peg Leg. And yet, it made perfect sense. A lifelong animal lover, Nancy could never turn away a stray cat, dog, squirrel, or raccoon from her California farm. But the macaw, quickly rechristened Sarah, was a whole new challenge, as Nancy, her husband, Kerry, and their furry menagerie would find out.Initially timid of her new surroundings, Sarah soon imposed her four-foot wingspan into the family homestead--first claiming the laundry basket, then conquering a prized dresser--and achieved complete household domination. Nancy couldn't "bird-proof" the place fast enough, and it was not long before Sarah started stealing the dogs' toys--using her enormous beak to disembowel Ben the mutt's treasured stuffed bear--and bathing her richly hued feathers in their water bowl. She also peppered Nancy's phone conversations with expletive-laden outburs