LETTER: Crackers killed our Polly

Annatjie Botes, Boksburg North, writes:

Regarding your recent article about the New Year firecrackers, I want to share the story of what my elderly mom had to endure due to the fun of fireworks.

My mom (75) resides with me and had an African Grey named Polly that she got as a gift from her brother over 10 years ago.

He was so free-spirited, walking the whole house, and he’d always wait for Mom to share a bit of whatever she was eating with him when she sat down.

Mom loves animals and last year lost two of her small dogs due to old age and illness.

She only receives a Sassa grant but always shares what she has with everyone. She has a very big heart.

Now, here is the sad part and where I want to thank all the people who think it is cool and funny to get drunk and shoot off fireworks.

After being up late with her dog because of the noisy fireworks, my mom went to open Polly’s cage on the morning of January 1.

She immediately saw a big red blob hanging out of Polly’s rectum and was very upset.

She googled and found that stress could have caused the problem.

Polly had wanted to relieve himself, and at that moment, the firecrackers frightened him so much that he pushed too hard, and his whole rectum came out. This was confirmed by a vet whom we had to see because Polly needed an operation. My mom cried.

We managed to get the money, and the operation was done, but within days, we noticed the same thing had happened. The operation had not been successful.

Mom did not have the money to pay for another operation, so our only option was to pay R100 to put Polly out of his pain.

No more Polly. All thanks to “nice and lovely” people who shoot off fireworks. Your actions cost an old person and her animals so much pain.

There are no consequences for these people, but my mom just walks and cries all day for her loss.

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