A New Yorker with a dove in her purse inspires millions
Young New Yorker Abby Jardine has become viral on Tiktok because of her unusual pet – Pidge the pigeon, who accompanies her everywhere, even to restaurants and bars. She rescued the bird as an abandoned puppy, domesticated it and even taught it to use the toilet. Their story inspires millions of followers and raises questions about the relationship between people and animals and the boundaries between the everyday and the extraordinary.
What sounds like a scene from a movie is for Abby Jardine a perfectly normal day from Brooklyn. Your dove Pidge she carries it in her purse and takes it with her when she goes out for a drink with friends or travels. Pidge is not just a pet, but her constant companion who has become a real Internet sensation.
Abby found her abandoned next to the trash in May 2023, just three weeks old. Since she could not fly and would not survive on her own, she initially wanted to hand her over to a wild bird rehabilitation center. But she quickly became attached to it and decided to keep it. Despite her lack of experience with birds, she raised Pidge to be a domesticated, calm and social animal.
Abby regularly posts their adventures on social media, from Uber rides to plane trips. Her community has more than 2.2 million followers, who enthusiastically follow the unusual duo.
A toilet instead of a cage: unusual but effective parenting
One of the most surprising aspects of their relationship is toilet training. Abby has taught the dove to defecate over the toilet bowl, which allows her to easily take it with her almost anywhere. When they’re out, Abby finds the bathroom every 30 to 40 minutes and gently holds Pidge over the bowl until she does her thing. Although she tried other methods, such as using a litter box, the bird was afraid of them. The toilet thus became the most practical solution.
Despite the stereotype of pigeons as “flying rats”, Abby claims that she and Pidge have never had any problems in public. The bird is calm, clean and used to people, so they are usually accepted in bars without hesitation.
A viral story with differing opinions
Online, the story is generating a wave of excitement, but also some skepticism. While many admire the devotion and bond between Abby and Pidge, others question the suitability of such a lifestyle for a bird. The comments under the videos are often humorous: from comparisons with prestigious handbags to comments that other pigeons are probably jealous of the bird’s luxurious life. Regardless of opinions, it is clear that this unusual story has attracted the attention of the world public.
