🦜 Stu’s Story – Part 2: The Condition He Was Found In When rescuers finally reached Stu, what they found was heartbreaking. Stu had been left behind in a house that had already been sold. The people who lived there had moved out and simply didn’t take him with them. Alone in the empty house, Stu survived the only way he could — quietly, waiting, not understanding why his family was gone. What we didn’t know then was just how long he had been struggling. Stu had lived for years in a cage far too small for a cockatoo. His entire diet consisted of black oil sunflower seeds, a food that no parrot can thrive on. The lack of proper nutrition caused his beak to grow severely misshapen, leaving it painful, overgrown, and difficult to use. The damage didn’t stop there — Stu’s vision deteriorated so badly that by the time he arrived, he could barely see shapes in front of him. He had no toys. No enrichment. No companionship. No comfort. Just silence, darkness, and waiting. By the time Stu came to Ziggy’s Haven, he was frightened, malnourished, and in real physical pain. Even trying to touch toys hurt him. Every movement was cautious. Every sound startled him. This was the starting point of Stu’s journey. Update they were not Prosecuted. A wonderful family assisted us in getting him to the facility they were the true heros!!!! In our next post, we’ll share how Stu began healing — and how he’s learning to trust again in a loving foster home.