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A MUCH-LOVED pet is missing and his distraught family has appealed to members of the public to help bring him home.
Owner Rachel Mills said Bazil the Alexandrine parrot flew away from his Firgrove Estate residence about 12.30pm Sunday.
"He often comes outside with us, where he sits on a t-piece on top of his cage," she said.
"My son had him outside and was trying to put him in his cage to give him a shower when there was a gust of wind that carried him away.
"He's in the middle of growing new-season feathers and a new flight feather had come through on a wing I'd clipped and it was obviously enough to help him fly away."
Bazil had very much become part of the family since joining the household three years ago, Ms Mills said.
"When we prepare food he has a plate with a little bit of the same food on it, he sees us as his flock," she said.
Ms Mills said her family including three sons aged 7 to 15 were devastated to have lost Bazil.
"We are one very upset family - I've been crying on and off since he went missing," she said.
The family had pounded the pavement, searching surrounding streets and dropping leaflets into letterboxes in an effort to find their feathered friend. They were also offering a reward for information that led to Bazil's return.
As someone who was well-known in Dubbo for the countless hours she had selflessly devoted to the Hear Our Heart Ear Bus Project, it was now Ms Mills' turn to ask members of the community for help.
"Please return him so I can sleep at night," she said.
"At the time he went missing the wind was blowing towards Beni forest so I hope people who live in houses on Eulomogo Road could have a look out for him.
"If you do find him, he won't bite, even though he might look fierce because of his huge beak. If you tell him to 'hop on' he'll hop on your hand.
"He doesn't know how to find food or water because we give that to him. This type of parrot is not a native bird.
"Not knowing is the worst, so if it turns out he's died at least we'd know."
Bazil's large red beak made him distinctive, Ms Mills said. While not a chatterbox, Bazil was able to speak some words, including his own name, and wolf-whistled.
An animal lover from way back, Ms Mills said she had developed a reputation for taking in strays, including a lamb earlier this week that had lost its mother.
Anyone with information about Bazil's whereabouts was asked to contact Ms Mills on 0413 687 671.