Yesterday morning I received news that our parrot who has been with us for the past 30 years is ill and has been admitted to a veterinary clinic close to our home.It appears that he is unable to breathe properly and requires nebulization. Most African Grey parrots die due to respiratory conditions. Even though he was not as close to me as he was to my brother and mom, I kind of felt an inner sadness. He has been literally a part of our family. I know of many people out there who find it strange if you cry or feel sad at the loss of an animal. I have also come across individuals who have pets but fail to take them to the vet when they are ill based on the grounds that they are just animals, so what if they die. Many of these individuals practice Islam and preach about Islam but they forget to uphold the rights of God Almighty's creation. There are numerous sayings of the Prophet Muhammed (saw) related to the humane treatment of animals. I always believe that having a pet in your house is equivalent to adopting a child into the home. The pet requires the same basic needs that a child requires which is of course being fed on time and provided with tender loving care.I hope that the our parrot gets well soon. Our house and family environment will never be the same without him.
