As a child, I was cursed with the plague that no person would ever wish upon their worst enemy: an allergy to cat and dog hair. As a result, I could never own any cats or dogs, and whenever I visited friends or family members who had them, I always had to remember my allergy pill.

I envied everyone who had a cat or dog and wished for a pet that could bring the same love and companionship that dogs and cats have. I tried numerous pets – hamsters, rabbits, fish and hermit crabs – but none of them could live up to my expectations. That is, however, until I got my first pet bird.

When I first got my Zebra finch named Keto when I was 11, I was very curious and excited. I had no idea what to expect from a pet bird, but I was very eager to find out. What began as an awkward relationship between an unexperienced bird owner and an anti-social and overly paranoid bird turned into a loving and caring companionship. We were both able to understand and care for each other in a subtle yet interesting way; when I sensed he was feeling worried or stressed, I would sit by his cage and softly whistle at him until he appeared calm again, and when he saw that I was upset, he would perch at the edge of his cage and chirp at me until I calmed down. The day Keto died (after eight years, significantly longer than the average lifespan of Zebra finches), I felt as if I had lost one of my best friends. This relationship ultimately proved to me that I didn’t need a cat or dog in order to have the same relationship.

After coming to that realization, I was more than thrilled when my mom surprised me with two more birds after coming home from my first year at college; this time, two 5-week-old parakeets. When I first arrived home, they were terribly frightened of me and flew frantically around their cage at the very sight of me. This did not discourage me, however, as I knew I would eventually be able to develop the same strong bond with them as I had done with my previous bird. After only three days of being around them and interacting with them, my new parakeets grew fond of me and now sing to me every time I walk through my door.

Although they may not appear to be so, birds are animals that can bring anyone the same benefits as a cat or dog; they are loyal, compassionate and excellent company. Now, I no longer long for a canine or feline friend while I have my aviary one.