The Andersen home in Port Moody is peaceful now that their prized pet dove Peach has returned to the nest.
Two weeks ago, the ringneck dove flew the coop when a window was left open at their Appleyard Court condo and Jade and her daughter, Sophie, a Scott Creek middle school student, spent the next several days putting up posters and frantically chasing down leads.
"It was quite an adventure over the past couple of weeks and I was losing hope," Jade recalled.
But on Sunday night she heard from a local musician who had been caring for Peach at his St. Johns Street home after the playful bird landed on his shoulder. Wayne Cogley, a bird lover himself, had been carrying his groceries into his home when the bird showed up.
"I've rescued some before, rehabilitated some, this one was really thirsty and hungry," Cogley said.
He put it in a quiet place in his home and after a few days the bird started to perk up. "It was obviously someone's pet," he said, and Cogley began to search online for a connection.
Unfortunately, his computer broke down and he had to take it in for repairs and despite being in the neighborhood never saw any of the dozens of posters the Andersens placed in coffee shops and near parks.
Eventually, though, thanks to Craigslist, Cogley connected with the Andersens who showed up at his home Sunday night to see if the bird was theirs.
"She was shocked it was the bird," Cogley said, "I was very happy they were reunited."
It was the broken toenail on one foot that clearly identified the bird, and Jade said she couldn't believe it was Peach after a wild goose chase that had them following dozens of leads that turned out be false.
The family racked up 1,600 km on their car traveling to various homes and yards in pursuit of the pet her daughter Sophie had four four years and during their search saw everything from wild Eurasian Collared doves to a few pigeons.
"It was so many people who read the article or saw the flyers and kept their eyes peeled and I met so many bird lovers. It kind of renews my faith in humanity," said Jade. "I appreciate every one of them, (the leads) even if they didn't turn out to be Peach, I really appreciate it."
Cogley, meanwhile, turned down the $100 reward he was offered, saying he was pleased to be able to return the family's feathered friend.
"I'm just glad I could help someone."
