Don't even think about getting an owl as a pet
 |
|
||||||||||
If you've seen "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," you know about Harry's pet, an owl named Hedwig.
Well, we all remember what happened back in '96, when an updated "101 Dalmatians" movie was released. Everyone ran out and bought Dalmatians before they realized the breed is high-strung and isn't an easy one to own.
The lesson being: Just because you see something in a movie doesn't mean you should have it.
To that end, we consulted Ernie Colaizzi, who owns Backtalk Bird Center in North Dallas, to help us consider the following factors, if and when your little darling begs for his or her very own pet owl.
Owls are insatiable gossips. No matter what the conversation, no matter what the activity, they always want to know "who, who, who" you are talking about.
Owls aren't good listeners. Even if you tell them who you're talking about, it's as if they don't even hear you. It's right back to who-who-who. This can get annoying.
Owls are nocturnal. If you're down with being up all night, the owl is your bird.
Owls bear an unsettling resemblance to Angela Lansbury. If you're a fan of "Murder, She Wrote," disregard.
Owls have intimacy issues. They don't like to be petted, and they don't respond when you ask, "Who's a pretty birdie?"
Owls kill animals and eat their flesh. "You don't want to offer a kiss because you might lose a lip or a nose," Colaizzi advises.
Finally, they're illegal as pets.
"They're a federally protected species," he says.