A PARROT stolen during a burglary almost nine years ago has been reunited with his owner after being found in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Barney, an African Grey, was discovered in the car park of the IKEA store on July 30, sparking an extraordinary chain of events that eventually led to him being returned home.
The animal was taken to the town’s Animal Trust Vets, where staff discovered he was microchipped.
However, the contact details linked to the chip were no longer up to date, making it impossible to trace his owner.
Barney was then transferred to Hillary Harry and Friends Wildlife Rescue in Diggle, where staff spent two days trying to identify where he belonged.
The breakthrough came when rescuers searched online using Barney’s name and age, uncovering news reports from 2017 about an African Grey parrot that had been stolen during a burglary.
Using information from those reports, they were able to locate the original police crime reference number and contact officers, who helped connect them with Barney’s owner.
Barney had been stolen on August 17, 2017, when burglars broke into a property, stole electrical items and took the bird. It is believed he was forced into a hessian sack before the offenders fled.
When contacted by rescuers, owner Mr Mortimer from Bradford was stunned by the news.
His first response was reportedly: “He’s not alive.”
Rescuers were delighted to reassure him that Barney was alive and well.
And on August 5, the pair were finally reunited after nearly nine years apart in what was described as an emotional and unforgettable moment.
The remarkable reunion began with Barney being found in Ashton-under-Lyne and ended with a happy outcome many thought would never happen.