COCHRANE— The Cochrane and Area Humane Society was briefly home to two unlikely friends in March.
A mouse, later called Melvin by the staff, was brought to the Humane Society after being found by some Cochranites.
“Melvin approached them directly,” said Communications Coordinator Lisa Kedian. “When they realized he wasn't a wild mouse, they scooped him up in a Starbucks paper cup and brought him right over to us.”
However, soon after Melvin escaped from his cage during cleaning and was unable to be found.
“We were really concerned, as of course, our building is full of cats.”
Around the same time, the Humane Society had received another curious resident, a racing pigeon named Valiant.
After Melvin had not been seen for almost six days the staff were fearing the worst for their newest mouse resident.
However, one day, one of the staff members saw Melvin hanging out in the new racing pigeon's cage.
“Melvin was just gorging himself on all the birdseed that had fallen to the bottom of Valiant's cage, living his best life,” Kedian exclaimed. “Melvin was later found snuggled up— Sound asleep comfortably in his little bedding nest in his cage.”
After discovering the two’s new unlikely friendship, the team placed Melvin's cage with his bedding within the bird enclosure.
The happy story of these two peculiar friends does not stop there, both animals have since been adopted with Melvin, now named Stuart Little, being taken home the next day by shelter volunteer Jodi South.
“I have always rescued small rodents as I enjoy their companionship and I feel good about giving them a great home to feel safe and loved,” South said. “So, when the opportunity came to adopt Stuart Little, I jumped at the chance to bring him home and offer him a forever home where he will be loved and cherished.”
Jodi said she was not surprised that Stuart found comfort hanging out with the pigeon.
“They generally both eat the same type of food and there were lots of hiding places for Stuart to go to in the pigeon's enclosure if Stuart was frightened.”
She added she was quite happy he found comfort with the pigeon, she said, explaining the pigeon was a friendly soul which Stuart probably sensed as well.
Stuart was the fourth mouse South adopted from the Humane Society. Alongside the four mice, she has four bunnies and has adopted hamsters and gerbils.
“I very much enjoy the small creatures as they are very entertaining and peaceful souls.”
