Burglars steal asthmatic parrot

The parrot was taken from a house in an isolated village

A parrot suffering from the bird equivalent to asthma has been stolen from a house in an isolated village.

Jane Howes, who lives in Therfield, near Royston in Herts, had had the Jardine's Parrot for eight years and said it was on medication.

"The raiders broke into the house while my partner popped out for an hour. The parrot was the only thing they took," she said.

"We believe they had been watching the house and the bird was taken on order."

'Under great stress'

Police said that a lot of pets disappear in this way and owner Ms Howes has contacted the Missing Pets Bureau to register the loss.

"I'm doing everything possible to get the parrot back," Ms Howes said.

"Animals are my life and I look after this one especially. He has a nebuliser so he can breathe in a mixture made up by the vet when he has a wheezing attack.

"If he's still alive he will be under great stress and will need the nebuliser even more.

"I hope there is someone out there who can help. The Jardine's parrot is not especially rare and I do not think they are expensive to buy but ours is special to us."