The Verdict, The Sentencing, We'll Decide The Action

Dennis has had lung issues pretty much all of his life, but recently they have been getting worse and when he failed his lung function tests for his work, medical attention had to be sought so off to the Doctor, and then the Lung Specialist. After the battery of lung function tests, blood tests, ECG, chest x-rays, and CT scan, the Specialist had the results, the diagnosis, and the "prescription". The good news is that there is no scarring and no asbestosis, which is always on the back of ones (and spouse's) mind when one works industrial. However Dennis has inflammation in his lungs and the causative agent is organic in nature vs inorganic. During Dennis' initial Specialist visit, a complete history was recorded and the question of whether we have pets. The answer was yes: 4 cockatiels and 2 dogs. Dogs are outdoor, however for obvious reasons the cockatiels are not. So back to the organic causing agent. In a heartbeat the Specialist told us that because the causative agent is organic the cockatiels have to go and the house professionally cleaned because HEPA filters are no match for bird dander. Bottom line sentencing: birds have to go (and so does the dust, but that's a given).

Considering that we have had these birds for at least 5 years, some of them 10, and we've had cockatiels for 18 year, this is like being told to get rid of your child and in this case, 4 of them. Better yet is the assumption is to choose between Dennis and the birds and of course the choice would be Dennis because the birds are just pets and they can be "gotten rid of". WRONG!!!!  Yes I am still keeping Dennis and we are also keeping the birds because in the realm of possibility, there is ALWAYS another way, ALWAYS, just have to figure it out. So far we have a solution, just have to test it out.

For starters we don't have any ordinary home and those who have been to our house can attest to that. First of all we do not have a furnace nor do we have carpeting so all dust is in the open and visible so that makes for easy cleaning. Still not wild about washing down a whole house, but whatever, needs to be done. Plus we have a whole house HEPA air-to-air exchanger where the whole house air is dumped outside and fresh taken in.  Next is that the birds will be moved into my office (that I'm in frequently) which is the next room where they are now and the bonus with that is the door can be closed. Now here is our genius idea: a dust containment system. We are putting the cage into a screen house that will catch the majority of the dust and I can wash it frequently. Plus in the screen house we will also put a small HEPA filter as it's one thing to purify a room or a house, but when the area is small the efficiency of the filter goes way up (think fumehoods).

As far as we can see, it's worth a try as neither one of us want our birds to go. As much as I want to BBQ them sometimes, they are entertaining, they are companions, and there is bonding between us, all of us. We are a family and families find a solution. So right now I have a tentlike screen house in my living room that's waiting to be moved, a house that needs cleaning, and furniture to be relocated. The other good news is that this gives us a very good opportunity to declutter and organize so best wear my pedometer to rack up those kilometers. One thing that I can say is that living with Mr. Packrat, this is going to be interesting.
Sherri Donohue