just a blurb update. The screaming is getting to the owner, and when I dropped the dog off today (We have a personal arrangement for me to drop the dog off when he calls outside of work etc etc...) I drop his dog off, I see the bird in the cage near his crate, I walk over after noticing the dog has no water, but I am also wary that this man is probably video taping me....so I don't go to get water, so instead I deliberately said aloud, that I was sorry to Sayf that he had no water. Then went over to the macaw, whose name I cannot pronounce in any fashion but sounds like the word sarafan with a few indescribable vowels. She looked at me, I looked at her,then reached over and rubbed her talons through the cage and said hello, now this is a bird that has been aggressive with me before, or at least untrusting, the bird placed it's head against the bars, looked down, and I swear to god if the bird could cry tears, she would have been shedding them. She was slow in the cage, that could be because the apartment was dark or what not, I didn't have permission to give her an apple or anything, I can only walk from the door, to the cages, then out the door again and I'm betting the doorman times me. So, I reached in, and rubbed her tummy briefly and appologised to her too that I couldn't play with her right now, (I wanted to say help her but if I did there's probably audio equipment around) so I gave her a cheery smile and left...

I'm going to continue to work at my job, not because I love driving 4 hours in traffic from PA to NYC..or the need of money, but because now I saw it in her eyes, she's sad and lonely. There's no way I can talk him out of the bird. All I can do is wait, if he can work out an agreement with me since I work only 3 days a week now (LONG SHIFTS) I can at least check on her 3 times a week to make sure of her condition while I drop his dog off. But this bird has gone from hating women, to actually seeking comfort from a stranger in 2 weeks. I'm not sure what to make of her. Maybe in 10 months... he'll finally give up with her. But even then, the bird will either end up in a shelter or passed around, I don't know if I can save up 2K to try and get the bird from him on my own. He didn't say anything on price, this is my own gestimate he loves the bird, can hold her and so forth, but I know eventually that bird will have to drive him off his rocker and as of this time I will only be living on this side of the US until next year's march when I return to WA state.

I'm not babysitting the bird at this time, but privately, for a split second it did cross my mind that if left alone with this bird, I might take her to the vet.... just to be sure. She seems fine, but even my Sunnie, Jean, isn't slow when thelight comes on, he's instantly attentive, maybe its a macaw thing. Just thought I should let you know....I'll be updating you again when and if the situation changes.

EDIT/NOTE: I have no idea if there are really listening devices or video equipment in his apartment/penthouse, I am just very cautious because the last rich person who I watched his kids for, he had cameras hidden in the house watching me, and informed me the only reason he trusted me with his kids 6 months after I started sitting, was because he had been watching me. Creepy...

You can't give water to the dog? Poor pets, does he care for them?

I could give it to him, if there had been a bowl, or water spigot in sight, but that would mean to find it I'd have to go into his kitchen, look for one, and put it in his crate then wait for Sayf to finish to put it away...which would take too much time and indicate to him I was untrustworthy. I'm going to bring it up to him personally when I see him next.

As for caring for em, he shells out more than 500$ a month for daycare services, taxi-ing, feedings, come to think of it I should have checked her food trays...Also there is STILL ONLY ONE TOY in the cage. Another thing I'm going to have to bother him about, but I need to establish a friend sort of relationship with this man if I'm going to get anywhere, he's still just a stranger to me and if I can get closer to him maybe I can learn more and either convince him in the year I have left in school to give up the bird, or improve his care of em...because he seems to be gone 15 hours a day everyday.

Surely he would think more of you if you were to water his pets. Perhaps he simply forgot to set the bowl out/fill it up. I can't imagine anybody being upset for filling up a water dish for a dog...no matter how rich they are.

Maybe. But the man flipped out on my coworker (he left the living area to see where the bird was which was a violation of the rules, he wasn't aware the man was home) There was no waterbowl anywhere in plain sight for me to refill, next time I go I suppose I'll just bring a waterbottle and a cup with me.

Maybe he just thought the guy was snooping around. Obviously if he did have cameras he would be able to see you're not doing anything wrong by watering the dog.

There ya go, good idea!

why don't you ask him if he would mind if you gave the dog some water and treats after his walk. I would ask him also if he would mind if you did it for the birdie as well. I would be very surprised if he said no.