There is a lost kitty that needs help. She is new to Indianapolis having just moved here from out of state. She slipped out a door when her caregiver came in while her family was gone a few days. That poor lady is frantic. The cat has an identification chip. She has an orange spot on top of her head. Email or call me (926-3647) for more details if you spot a cat with a spot.

Some of you read my column regularly and have now gotten to know me through it. Two months ago I wrote about African Gray Parrots. I told of my niece and her husband owning one and how it had died unexpectedly of illness. I thought I would share a follow-up.

Last month, on a whim, I decided last minute to fly down to Naples, Florida to visit my brother and his family. Since it was last minute, I walked in on some events that were already planned, so I got to tag along. One of them was parrot shopping. My brother Harry works with a woman who breeds birds and had made arrangements to go see them. Many of us have taken the drive to look at puppies or kittens at a breeders home but I bet you haven't gone to see a bird breeder. I don't know much about birds and probably would be inclined to go to the pet store for them. We drove to the far east side of Naples that was really on the fringe of the Everglades. Her home was set deep off the road on eighteen acres. We had to open a gate across the drive that keeps her horse inside. He is the last of many that she used to show and he has free range. We drove the long palm lined drive up to the house. The property was tropical and jungle-like. She met us at the door, which when opened exposed large cages in front of big interior windows. The house itself was pretty neat with many levels. When asked how many birds she had she wasn't sure, but said between 150 and 250. She settled us in her family room and then began bringing birds down to us. It was a WOW! moment. First came the baby African Gray Parrot followed by the showy Macaws and Cockatiels. I'm sure she had many other breeds but we didn't want to take up her day. The three-month-olds were already full size and just gorgeous. Some of these birds sell for more than $3,000! The African Gray would sell in the store for around $1,600 but to us $800. She brought out featherless, closed-eyed babies from the incubator for us to see. They were in a paper towel lined bowl. They looked like any baby bird that you have perhaps seen that has been found fallen from its nest. How quickly they grow to a large colorful, long-tail feathered adult. I have been in bird stores before where the birds are squawking so loud that the noise is horrible. Here, I remember thinking it was quite tolerable with no racket. Harry held and talked to the birds as did his wife. When we left we saw many large cages in the yard. It is the tropics and they were basking in the sun and enjoying life. Like them I was ready to do the same, which is the reason I had come down for the week. So we waved goodbye and I have stored that fun morning in my mind. It was a really neat and unique experience.

If you have a unique pet or pet experience you would like to share, please contact me. I am ready to feature some "Gazette Pets" so please send me your pictures and story for consideration. Pets make you smile.