logo
Bird lovers flock to adopt parrot who is ‘rated R, parental advisory required'

Bird lovers flock to adopt parrot who is ‘rated R, parental advisory required'

Washington Post13 hours ago
Animal shelter employees were enjoying a rare quiet moment in the lobby when a yell came from a room designated for small animals: 'Shut the f--- up.'
Four employees looked at one another in confusion. Then the shriek came again.
The culprit? Hendrix, a blue-and-gold macaw who came to the shelter the prior month, surrendered by his longtime owner. The cursing only became louder after that late-May afternoon.
Chantelle Rogers, administrative assistant at the Forever Paws Animal Shelter in Fall River, Massachusetts, was tasked with writing a blurb to help Hendrix get adopted. She opted for honesty.
'If you adopt Hendrix, you're basically adopting Samuel L. Jackson,' Rogers wrote on Facebook, referring to the actor who is known, in part, for his delivery of profanity-laced dialogue in movies. 'This bird's language is not for the faint of heart.'
Her post only made people more interested.
Thousands of people shared the post, which got traction for its candor and its humor. The next day, the shelter received a windfall of about 60 adoption applications, prompting employees to close applications that day. One person was soon selected, and Hendrix's new owner took the parrot home June 21 after hearing the bird curse a few times.
'It's so quiet without him,' Rogers told The Washington Post. 'We do definitely miss him, but we know he's where he's supposed to be.'
Hendrix first arrived at the shelter in April. He was surrendered to Fall River Animal Control by his prior owner of two decades, said Cynthia Berard-Cadima, the department's supervisor. Blue-and-gold macaws can live for more than 70 years, according to the Australia Zoo, and Rogers said Hendrix is about 30 years old.
Rogers said the first person who popped into her mind when she saw the colorful macaw was the late singer and guitarist Jimi Hendrix. But many of Hendrix's feathers were missing on his roughly 3-foot-tall body and 40-inch-wide wingspan, Rogers said, probably due to malnutrition.
The shelter mainly houses cats and dogs, so Hendrix was the only parrot in a room with a few rabbits and a guinea pig. Hendrix was initially scared of people, shaking when an employee approached his cage.
The shelter bought Hendrix an extra-large Chewy pineapple toy that employees hung in the parrot's cage and discovered the bird's favorite treats: strawberries, blueberries, dried bananas and peanuts.
A few weeks after arriving, Hendrix began opening up, saying 'cracker' when the parrot wanted a dried banana chip and 'thank you' when he received one. Hendrix once told Rogers: 'Good morning, baby.' Hendrix chirped when he wanted attention and tried to mimic barking noises he heard from the shelter's dogs.
Near the end of May, employees heard Hendrix curse for the first time. After that, Hendrix used more vulgar language — and said it louder.
A new employee was cleaning Hendrix's cage near the beginning of June when the parrot cursed at him. Employees told customers that if they hear profanities, it's coming from a parrot who wants attention, not a person.
Hendrix might've learned the vulgar words by hearing them in his previous home, Rogers said, but his foul language probably meant he was becoming more comfortable at the shelter.
Hoping to discourage Hendrix's language, employees turned around or left the room to laugh after Hendrix cursed.
'How do you not laugh at that? Like, the bird just cussed you out,' Rogers, 32, said with a laugh. 'So, like, you have to react at some point.'
While his language remained salty, Hendrix grew new feathers by eating soft-pellet bird food. By mid-June, Rogers said, Hendrix was ready to be adopted.
'One day he will call you baby and the next day he's calling you a...hmm. MFer I guess is the politest way to type it out,' Rogers wrote on Facebook on June 11. 'He says thank you when you give him snacks but will also tell you to shut up.'
'This bird is rated R, parental advisory required, a real sour patch kid if one side was sugar and the other side was arsenic,' Rogers added.
Rogers wrote near the end of the post that they sought an owner for Hendrix who has a cage and experience owning large birds. She added that the owner can't live in an apartment or have children 'because he is loud and explicit.'
When one commenter asked whether the shelter can be more specific about the profanity Hendrix uses, Rogers replied: 'Facebook will ban me if I repeat them.'
When Rogers went to work the following day, the shelter had received about 30 adoption applications from across the United States and Canada, and more would come in throughout the day.
On June 12, nearly 28 hours after posting the advertisement, the shelter added to the top of its post 'APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED!'
'And just like that, I learned way more about most people than I wanted to,' Rogers wrote on Facebook a few days later.
Shelter employees narrowed the applicants to the five most qualified and invited them to meet Hendrix. One woman who already had a room and toys in her house for birds she previously owned was the perfect fit, Rogers said.
When the owner took Hendrix home, Hendrix cursed a few times when employees moved his cage. After he left, the shelter became quieter; vulgar language no longer overlapped with dogs barking.
Rogers said the owner emailed her a few days later, saying that Hendrix is beginning to feel comfortable. He might be ready to let a new torrent of obscenities fly.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Woman's heartwarming video of her ‘rich people' stuff goes viral on TikTok
Woman's heartwarming video of her ‘rich people' stuff goes viral on TikTok

Yahoo

time19 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Woman's heartwarming video of her ‘rich people' stuff goes viral on TikTok

'Rich people stuff' just got a hilarious new definition, at least according to one viral TikToker who's proudly flaunting her middle-class luxuries and racking up millions of views. In a video posted Tuesday and receiving over 7 million views, Samantha, a 27-year-old content creator from Texas, walks around her house showing off a life of luxury with 'rich people' items such as matching bedside tables, Bath and Body Works handsoap, and a large area rug in the living room. 'If you got a fridge in the garage, you're rich,' Samantha said, proudly displaying her own unit. 'Double points if you got a deep freezer – I ain't there yet.' In another scene, she proudly showed off the headboard on her bed. 'Headboards in all the rooms, OK? My children, me, my other children, we all got a headboard.' Samantha continued, 'There ain't nothing wrong with a mattress on the floor. Been there, done that. Not anymore. We're rich.' She even offered one 'controversial' take. 'A TV hanging on the wall, OK? That just screams rich people s***. But I do still have some TVs on some entertainment centers, though,' Samantha admitted. Samantha told The Independent the viral response to the video feels 'crazy.' 'I think everyone gets carried away with comparing themselves to everyone that we forget how blessed we truly are,' she said about the inspiration behind the video. 'I wanted to share it on my platform in a funny but real way.' Samantha's video and a subsequent clip about other 'rich' items in her home have garnered more than 14,000 comments between them, from millions of people who applauded her for her virtual tours. 'This screams gratitude and being proud of what you have and IM. HERE. FOR. IT,' one person said. 'Someone who grew up poor… this is so spot on, especially the headboard part haha,' another wrote. A third viewer said, 'Growing up poor poor, I concur. These are all rich people things! Congratulations – you've made it!' 'Gotta keep a few TVs on stands so your guests don't feel too uncomfortable being in a mansion,' another person joked. Other viewers also shared their 'rich' flexes. 'I don't wanna brag but I've got 2 types of cheese rn,' one person said. 'The FIRST thing my husband said when we got our garage fridge – 'we made it.' Bro we're still broke but at least we have a garage fridge,' another wrote. A third person quipped, 'A little bragadocious but… I have a water dispenser IN MY FRIDGE. It also makes crushed ice.'

'Big Brother' 27 Promises a Season of Secrets With Mystery Houseguest
'Big Brother' 27 Promises a Season of Secrets With Mystery Houseguest

Yahoo

time26 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

'Big Brother' 27 Promises a Season of Secrets With Mystery Houseguest

Big Brother is back — and this summer, season 27 dives into 'A Summer of Mystery,' transforming the long-running CBS reality series into a high-stakes whodunit set inside the eerie Hotel Mystè by Julie Chen Moonves, the new summer season promises mind games and misdirection, complete with a masked visitor, a secret accomplice and perhaps most notable of all: a Mystery Houseguest whose identity will remain a secret… at least for BB27 house has undergone a major transformation, channeling the energy of a haunted hotel with every room telling its own story. The network describes it as "a suspense-filled hotel, complete with secrets, hidden passageways and a mysterious vibe that sets the stage for a summer of intrigue." Check out a tour of the house with photos below:Reception Area: A wall of 75 antique key boxes, some holding clues and skeleton keys, hint at season-long secrets that may unlock real advantages, or red herrings. Living Room Chess Guardians: With queen, bishop and knight statues looming from the balcony, strategy may take on a more literal tone. Attic Bedroom of Oddities: This room features beds crafted from wooden crates, walls adorned with rubber masks, and haunted curiosities like a black knight's helmet and an old diving suit. Sleeper Car Bunk Room: Hidden behind a concealed entrance, this murder-mystery-themed train room revives the long-lost bunkbed layout, which hasn't been seen since Season 1! Poison Bar & Venom Lounge: An upstairs lounge dripping in gothic glamour, where velvet daybeds, slithering wallpaper and party-light-stealing ravens create the perfect atmosphere for hushed strategy. Rooftop Garden Kitchen: Designed to feel like an open-air escape, this kitchen and dining space channels a rooftop garden vibe with ivy-draped walls and a 10-foot round table. Secretive 'Wine Cellar': A moody cellar that may be wine-free, but is tailor-made for covert game talk. Victorian Conservatory Lounge: The bathroom is filled to the brim with plants and features a 13-foot green velvet lounge seat. Boxing Ring Gym: The gym includes a full boxing ring, heavy bag and workout gear. Big Brother season 27 premieres Thursday, July 10 at 8 p.m. followed by another 90-minute episode on Sunday, July 13 at 8 p.m. ET. The 24/7 live feeds return on Sunday, July 13 at 9:30 p.m. PT on Paramount+ and Pluto TV. 'Big Brother' 27 Promises a Season of Secrets With Mystery Houseguest first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 2, 2025

Marisa Abela calls it ‘a real honour' to be cast in the upcoming reboot of Highlander
Marisa Abela calls it ‘a real honour' to be cast in the upcoming reboot of Highlander

Yahoo

time32 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Marisa Abela calls it ‘a real honour' to be cast in the upcoming reboot of Highlander

Marisa Abela has said it is 'a real honour to step into such a legacy' after being cast in the upcoming reboot of Highlander, which also stars Henry Cavill and Russell Crowe. The 28-year-old actress, who recently won a 2025 BAFTA TV Award for her role in the BBC series Industry, is joining the new iteration of the 1986 cult fantasy film, which will be directed by Chad Stahelski. The project is being developed by Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists, with a theatrical release planned. The reboot of Highlander, first announced in 2021, is being spearheaded by former Netflix film chief Scott Stuber, 55, who now oversees United Artists. Michael Finch is writing the screenplay, which is based on the original film by director Russell Mulcahy. That film starred Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery as immortal warriors locked in a centuries-long battle across time. Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt will produce the new film on behalf of UA, alongside Neal H. Moritz, 64, Stahelski's production company 87Eleven Entertainment, Josh Davis of Davis Panzer Productions, and Louise Rosner. United Artists has secured full rights to the 1986 film and may also develop a new television series, expanding on a franchise that previously included several sequels and a long-running TV adaptation. The original Highlander was produced by Peter S Davis and William N Panzer and has built a devoted fanbase since its release. Marisa said: 'It's a real honour to step into such a legacy, and I'm looking forward to working with Henry and Russell on something this iconic.' The actress most recently appeared opposite Michael Fassbender, 47, and Cate Blanchett, 55, in Steven Soderbergh's espionage thriller Black Bag. She also received a BAFTA EE Rising Star Award nomination for her portrayal of Amy Winehouse in the 2024 biopic Back to Black. Chad Stahelski, 55, best known for his work on the John Wick franchise, will direct the film. He said earlier this year that Highlander 'has always been a project close to my heart'. Marisa is represented by The Artists Partnership, WME Entertainment, Shelter PR, and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern. A spokesperson for Amazon MGM Studios declined to comment on the casting.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store