WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Why would anyone dump two caged parakeets at the curb to either freeze to death or get crushed in a garbage truck?
That's what West Bloomfield Township police are wondering after two sharp-eyed guys doing the trash pick-up on Tuesday noticed one of the birds was alive. Rizzo Services is the trash hauler for the township and the driver and loader were about to throw the cage into the truck to get compacted when they noticed one of the birds was moving.
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"We pick up in 28 communities, 1/2 million homes weekly and I have never heard of anyone throwing out a living thing, ever," said Chuck Rizzo, the company CEO.
The driver called his supervisor who alerted the township. He came to pick up the bird and got it someplace warm and some water. Rizzo OK'd getting the surviving bird to a vet to make sure it was alright.
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The township sent out an email blast to find the abandoned bird a home and one has been found.
In deciding on what to call the bird, the guys said "Lucky Rizzo" seems fitting.
"I'm proud of my guys for paying attention. This situation is unusual and I'm glad my guys reacted and did the right thing," Rizzo said.