A Milton Keynes lady who lost her home and all her possessions when her flat was devastated by fire is appealing for help to find her beloved cockatiel called Alex.
Izzy-Belle's beloved cat and a parrot died in last Friday's tragedy at Tattenhoe Park, but she believes Alex might have escaped the blaze.
“Alex had been flying around the lounge when the fire took hold,” Izzy said.
“I am pretty sure I can see him flying off in one of the videos that were taken, and his body wasn't found in the flat.”
Izzy and Alex have been inseparable ever since she brought her feathered friend home when the bird was just five weeks old: “He's the other half of me. He's my shadow,” she told Total MK.
“I was in a bad place when I got him, he has been my reason for living and we've never spent a day apart... this has been the worst week of my life.”
Alex is a strong flier and he could have travelled quite some distance – cockatiels are capable of flying up to 30 miles a day.
Alex is grey and white, with no yellow colouring at all. He only has three toes on his right foot, and has been on medication for a sore foot. He may be limping, or reluctant to use it.
He is also partial to rich tea biscuits!
Izzy added: “We need each other. Especially as Alex doesn’t normally eat unless I am with him – which is part of the reason we haven’t spent a night apart. I have to take him everywhere with me.”
An investigation into the cause of the blaze is underway, and Izzy is haunted by the ferocity and devastation she faced just over a week ago.
“I will never forget seeing the balcony walls, floor and railings on fire. Then the windows turning black as the flames came across them burning the frames, and the sound of them as they exploded in my face.” she said.
“That's when I lost Alex. The flames came in and the curtains, ceiling, doors were on fire. The room instantly filled with thick black smoke. I ran for my phone to call the fire brigade, and screamed down the phone that the fire was in my house. They said to get out and leave the animals for the firemen to get out."
Izzy said: “I blame myself because I wasted time talking on the phone and could have saved another pet in that time.”
Izzy is offering a reward for the return of her chirpy friend, and is appealing to everyone to keep looking for him. There was one possible sighting last night on Bletchley's Lakes Estate.
Heartbroken Izzy added: “Alex is my best friend, and I just want him back with me.”
Anyone who believes they might have seen Alex should contact Izzy here
Izzy has set up a crowdfunding campaign to support everyone who lost things in the fire. Donations can be made here
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