Dakota Comes Home

By Alyssa Joy

It was 4th of July weekend in 1998. I had wanted a sun conure for some time. I kept calling my local pet store to see when they would get any in. Well, finally they arrived. Just 2 babies, 3 weeks old. I raced over to see them.

As I looked in the little box, they were stretching their necks squawking and falling over one another. I knew right away which one I wanted ... the loud one (he he). I picked it out, and bought it, but couldn't take it home until it was weaned.

In the meantime I had them sex it, as I thought about names for it. I was trying to pick neutral names. My husband decided on Dakota.

We purchased a book on conures, and a few days later found out it was a boy. So Dakota it was. Two months later we were finally able to take him home, after visiting him 4-5 times per week at the store.

The first night home he slept on the bottom of his cage on his back. It was the funniest thing. He was also big on sleeping in our shirts, and still is to this day. And he loves his happy hut. Our little man is now almost 4 years old.