A woman has gone viral after sharing her unusual pet with the world – a lovely pigeon.
Nessie Macdonald first found Nigel the pigeon in 2021 after discovering the sick bird.
Taking him home, the pair bonded and soon became inseparable, with him never leaving her side.
Sharing him on TikTok (@nigelthepetpigeon) she quickly gained over 10.1m views.
“When I found him he was so malnourished and couldn’t puff up,” the 29-year-old from Hebden Bridge, England, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
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“I rehabbed him and, when I tried to release him, he just scratched at the window until I let him back in.
“So he stayed!
“I can’t describe just how much he has completed my life.
“He’s the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I do at night is make up his hot water bottle.
“It has taken over two years to earn his trust, and we’re still having firsts – like his first sunbathe, his first snuggle, his first nap on my knee.”
Doing everything together, there is no pigeon more pampered than Nigel.
She said: “Looking after him is actually quite easy.
“He has an extra large dog crate fitted out with a cosy cat bed, lots of perching space, bowls for his water and pellets, a hammock, and of course lots of toys.
“He does need a lot of company and he follows me around.
“The best way to describe it is like having a feathery cat.
“He does get regular crop infections so we go to the vets a lot – but pigeons in general only need food, warmth, and snuggles.”
Despite picking an unusual companion, Nessie couldn’t be happier, with her friends and family loving her pet.
She added: “He’s a regular at the pubs and the local garden centre.
“One of my friends calls him in the morning for ‘morning hoots’.
“My other friends have been won over by his constant wooing.
“If you’re wondering about a pigeon as a pet, do it!
“They have such a bad reputation as ‘dirty sky rats’ but they’re the cleanest birds!
“They love a bath, and humans have domesticated them for 10,000 years, so they’re pretty perfect pets.”
Sharing a clip of their walks on TikTok, he has captured the heart of the internet, with over 1.7m likes and 18,300 comments.
The official LidlGB page commented: “Nigel getting them steps in.”
Mariah wrote: “What a distinguished young lad.”
“How did u get ur own pigeon I want one,” added Oliver.
“do you think other pigeons are jealous of nigel,” asked someone else.
Another person commented: “omg so adorable.”
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