Meet Homie, The Home Depot Flooring Specialist

[TAWhatley]

http://www.rims.net/2005Nov27

So, I get this call Saturday morning from the Garden Grove Home Depot.
Seems there is a baby pigeon "terrorizing" the flooring department and the
surrounding aisles. I ask the caller to please catch the pigeon, put it in a
box, and wait for me to get there to pick it up.

I arrive and hot foot it to the flooring department only to find that they
weren't able to catch the youngster and now don't know where it is.
So off we go on a search of the massive store and have no luck finding
the pigeon. I'm getting a little upset as I've driven 25 miles one way to
get the bird and now have spent about 40 fruitless minutes looking for it.
I suggest to the manager that he make an announcement over the PA
system asking for anyone who has seen the bird to please call the
service desk ASAP. Within another 5 minutes or so, the call comes in
that the bird is hiding under the racks of carpet rolls in the flooring
department, so off we go again on our mission.

I'm down on the floor peering under what seems like dozens of racks
of carpeting and not finding a baby pigeon anywhere. Suddenly one
of the female employees screams "OMG, there he is and look what
he's done!". Sure enough, there's the baby pigeon standing on the
middle roll of carpet in one of the racks and looking at us like we're
crazy. What he had done was merely leave a few little calling cards
in the form of pigeon poopies on the roll of carpet.

Such a smart little pigeon! He had chosen a roll of indoor/outdoor
carpet .. I tell them it could have been worse .. he might have found
the roll of white berber to be the carpet of his choice.

I gently netted the little one and off we went for home. This little one
is healthy and just needs to grow up a bit more before continuing on
his journey through life.

Terry

[Maggie-NC]

Terry, great job "netting" this baby. I'm glad that the carpet rolls stayed put while he was on them.

Our Mr. Humphries also came from Home Depot only he was outside the building. Pigeons really seem to like going to HD. They hang aroung the garden center alot.

Maggie

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Terry,

LOL!!!! your recounts of going to the home depot, "hot footing" the floors, having an announcement made on the P.A. system are just too cute and funny I know it probably wasn't funny to you because your time is limited, but still, your story of your trials & tribulations to get the little guy sounded so comical but very endearing

He's a very nice looking little guy and very lucky to have escaped the throng of shoppers from tampling on him in those very busy stores!

[pdpbison]

Hi Terry,


Wow! Good going!


I can just picture him standing there looking at everyone wondering "What ARE these wierd beings DOING???" And just taking it all in...

Best wishes!

Phil
Las Vegas

[Trees Gray]

Hi Terry,

Thank you for sharing another adventure in the life of a rehabber. It did sound quite funny hearing about it, but I'm sure it wasn't being in the situation.

Nice of him to have concern for the cleaning staff and pooping on the indoor/outdoor carpet.

What a little doll bay..I'm glad he is healthy and will enjoy his new temporary home in your company and all your birds!

[TAWhatley]

Thanks everyone .. I'm glad you enjoyed little Homie's story! I truly was getting very, very irritated with the employees until one of the service desk ladies took it upon herself to try and really help find the bird .. everybody else was quite nonchalant about the whole thing even when I told them that somebody there would have to drive the little bird to me if we didn't find it soon. That usually gets people into action if they think they might actually have to put out some personal time and effort to help a little creature.

Anyway, it ended well, and both Homie and I are happy campers!

Terry

[Garye]

How in the world do you guys get away with saving pigeons? Most people would just try to kill them instead of calling someone to pick them up. I'm glad they called you, Terry, instead of calling a pest exterminator.

Birds are like people. They just like to shop.

[Garye]

I do know one thing, I hope none of those pigeons stole from Home Depot based on what I've heard about the store. Otherwise, they're going to be "jail birds".

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by Garye

How in the world do you guys get away with saving pigeons? Most people would just try to kill them instead of calling someone to pick them up. I'm glad they called you, Terry, instead of calling a pest exterminator.

Birds are like people. They just like to shop.

Guess some of us are just lucky! The helpful lady from the service desk diligently took down my name and cell phone # for baby bird season.

Terry

[Garye]

Well I'm glad they thought of you because like I said, most people would just call an exterminator. That lady sounds fantastic. I'm glad she's working there.

[mr squeaks]

Looking forward to hearing updates! He's is ONE lucky pijjie!! LOVED your story!

[KIPPY]

That is so cool that they called you and you went and caught the little guy. Too funny, I would have loved to have been there for that. I'm sure they will be talking about that for little while. You should send them a Christmas card with his picture on it. They will definately remember you next time they find a Pij in the wherehouse.

[dnrslucky1]

Terry!
I love that story! It should have been on the news! I am sure that baby was terrified, but thanks to you, it now has a safe warm home! Such an adorable baby to!

Denise

[andinla]

off of a newstand right next to the door of the grocery store. He was sitting there with a dixie cup of water and bread and just sleeping. From what we were told he had been there all day and people put food and water out for the little guy. (There are some nice people in this world).

Andi

[TAWhatley]

Andi,

That's a great story, and I'm glad you got the baby pigeon .. still .. it just baffles me that so few people will actually pick up a little bird or animal in need and just leave it where it is for someone else to take care of or to perish as the case may be.

Terry