About Us
About Birds in the Dog House
At Birds in the Dog House, education is the foundation of everything we do. We believe thoughtful preparation and informed decision‑making are essential to the well‑being of both birds and the people who welcome them into their lives. To support this, we offer comprehensive new owner orientation consultations as well as a wide range of refresher courses through private Zoom meetings or video conferencing. These consultations are open not only to our clients, but also to individuals considering bird ownership or those seeking updated guidance. Family participation is strongly encouraged, allowing us to educate while also helping determine whether a bird is the right fit for each household’s unique dynamic.
Our work is supported by a highly educated and experienced team that includes a certified Animal‑Assisted Intervention professional, an Animal‑Assisted Therapist, advanced academic training in business, psychology, and management, and dedicated specialists in marketing and social media. Collectively, our team brings more than 75 years of hands‑on avian experience, ensuring informed, ethical, and compassionate care across all of our programs.
Our commitment extends beyond individual placements and services to the broader community we serve. Through education, advocacy, and direct engagement, we work to promote responsible bird ownership, increase awareness of avian welfare, and strengthen the human–animal bond. Our educational consultations, family sessions, and outreach efforts empower individuals and households to make informed, compassionate decisions that benefit both birds and people.
Through Animal‑Assisted Interventions, our certified therapy team provides meaningful support to individuals facing physical, emotional, or psychological challenges, while also demonstrating the profound healing potential of human–avian connections. These interactions not only enhance quality of life for participants, but also serve as purposeful enrichment for our therapy birds.
Our impact is further reflected in our history of service and leadership within the animal welfare community, including charitable initiatives that have supported animals and humans in need, collaboration with avian and animal organizations, and ongoing involvement in professional and community associations. By combining education, ethical placement, therapy, and advocacy, we strive to create lasting, positive change—one household, one bird, and one connection at a time.
Meet our “Bird Brains”!
Did you Know?
Bird Brain: The origin of “bird brain” dates back to the 1920s or a little earlier when people were under the illusion that birds lacked attention and were flighty due to the small size of their brain. Recent studies have found that a bird has a large number of neurons in their pallium (the part of the brain which supports higher cognitive function).
Have no fear, all of you scattered “bird brains”! This label is now a compliment!
Meet our “Bird Brains”!
Amy
Amy has long been fascinated by animal behavior and has dedicated much of her adult life to deepening her understanding through extensive hands‑on experience. Her intuitive ability to “crack the code” of complex physical and behavioral challenges has led to her being entrusted with some of the most difficult rehabilitation cases—ranging from emotionally traumatized fight dogs to a PTSD‑affected military working dog returning from Afghanistan.
This work became deeply personal when Amy adopted Pogo, a Quaker Parrot born without feet or elbow joints. Caring for Pogo further strengthened her commitment to advocacy, adaptive care, and the belief that every animal deserves thoughtful, informed support.
In the fall of 2023, Amy faced an unexpected challenge of her own with a breast cancer diagnosis. During treatment, she experienced firsthand the profound healing power of the human–animal bond. As roles reversed, the animals became her therapy. While undergoing chemotherapy, Amy hand‑raised baby birds and rehomed them into carefully matched, loving environments—an experience that further solidified her belief in purposeful connection, resilience, and service.
Known to many as “Mamma Bird,” Amy is deeply passionate about ornithology, responsible bird ownership, avian enrichment, and matching the right bird to the right home. Her extensive background in animal behavior, combined with her personal journey of healing through animals, inspired her to expand her education and credentials. She is a Certified Animal‑Assisted Intervention Specialist (C‑AAIS) and a Certified Animal‑Assisted Therapist (C‑AAT).
Today, Amy and her therapy bird, Boo, form a well‑respected Animal‑Assisted Intervention team, providing occupational, physical, behavioral, and emotional support to individuals in need. Together, they demonstrate the powerful, reciprocal benefits of intentional human–avian interaction.
Amy is also an experienced keynote speaker who has reached hundreds through lectures focused on resilience, advocacy, and discovering “purpose in pain.” Beyond her professional work, she is happily married to her husband, Doug, and together they share a lively home with birds, dogs, cats and four children.
Amy previously served as CEO of Nawty Dawg Big Heart Charities, where she helped facilitate the raising of thousands of dollars in support of animals and humans in need. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University and completed her certification in Animal‑Assisted Therapy through the College of Science & Humanities at Husson University. She is certified as an Animal‑Assisted Intervention Specialist through the Association of Animal‑Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP).
Amy and her 40‑year‑old cockatoo, Boo, are a registered “complex” therapy team through Pet Partners. She is an active member of the American Federation of Aviculture, serves as secretary and board member of the Pet Bird Association of Virginia, and is treasurer and board member of the Peninsula Caged Bird Society in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Nick
Nick has always been passionate about animals and the bond that humans share with their furry, feathered and aquatic friends! His philanthropic heart shines through at his local SPCA where he has volunteered for over 10 years. His love of all God’s creatures dives deep as he is especially intrigued by various aquatic ecosystems and how they impact our lives.
Nick’s “true love” is his beloved dog, Dino.Dino has been his loyal companion for many years. Nick loves to introduce Dino to new friends in hopes of dispelling misnomers and stereotypes often associated with Dino’s breed.
Nick and Dino have an impressive travel resume’ as they have journeyed throughout the country exploring 44 states together!
Dino and Nick both have an affinity for the sea! When not splashing around in the ocean, Nick enjoys the solace that his home aquariums offer. Although nothing compares to the bond that he and Dino share, he finds himself lost in the peaceful mental escape provided by observing his aquatic friends. Though not as interactive as dogs, Nick shares that surprisingly, the fish display their own captivating social interactions and unique daily routines.
Nick’s enthusiasm is palpable when asked about his role at Birds in the Dog House. “We are cultivating a conscientious community with the focus on ethically and responsibly raising baby birds that are not just available for anyone with a credit card. We go above and beyond to make a compatible match between the human and the bird. We want our birds to thrive while complimenting their new owner’s lifestyle and set all involved up to have a long, adventurous, fulfilling life together”.
Nick has an extensive background in corporate branding and marketing and we can not wait to see how his superpowers take flight at Birds in the Dog House! Nick is beyond excited to meld his affinity for animals into this new career path while providing the best of the both worlds to Birds in the Dog House.
Nathanael
Nathanael has been a business owner for 15 years and has worked directly with business owners since 2014. He has started and successfully run numerous businesses and worked with others to solve real world problems that business owners face every day. He founded Ryan Business Group, LLC with his brother Nick Ryan in 2024 as a way to help small businesses full time. He practices a holistic coaching/consulting approach that works on the people in the business as much as he works on the business. He believes that small business is the backbone of America, and he strives to do all he can to help them achieve success.
Nathanael excelled academically and received his Associate’s degree in management at Tidewater Community College, his Bachelor’s in Management at Old Dominion University, and his Master’s in Business Administration with an Innovation Management concentration at Regent University on scholarship with Summa Cum Laude Honors.
Nathanael is most proud of his family and has been happily married to his wife, Angela, since 2018. He is a member of Epic Church of Palm Coast, Florida where he volunteers in the local mission team serving his community of Flagler County, Florida. He has 2 awesome standard poodles, Winston and Phoenix and he enjoys reading and working on business ideas/concepts (who would have thought)! Nathanael is passionate about serving his clients and he takes their success personally.
Lillie
Lillie was born into “bird life” growing up with her family’s Blue and Gold Macaw, Congo African Grey, Blue Crown Conure, and a plethora of smaller feathered friends. Given her exposure and passion for avians, it was natural for her to pursue a career focused on working with birds in a professional capacity.
When Lillie was fifteen, she gained a more comprehensive understanding of parrot husbandry after applying for a job at a pet store in Virginia Beach, popular for their vast selection of parrots. She would spend the next seven years embracing her thirst for knowledge about grooming, enrichment, nutrition (to include handfeeding hatchlings), and the overall comprehensive care that avians require to flourish throughout all stages of life. She cultivated lasting relationships with ethical aviaries and learned firsthand the repercussions of irresponsible breeding.
Although Lillie acquired valuable hands- on experience throughout her years of working behind the scenes with birds of all ages and attitudes, her heart lies with rehabilitating special needs birds. She currently provides a loving home to avians suffering from conditions such as epilepsy and stargazing in addition to anatomical abnormalities to include missing wings, feet, and visual impairment.
Years ago, she started a professional pet sitting and mobile bird grooming business which thankfully led her through our doors! Lillie joins Birds in the Dog House, bringing significant expertise and a strong entrepreneurial drive to the team. BDH is fortunate to have Lillie now managing our nursery operations alongside BDH Partner, Amy. Together, they will ensure that every baby that comes through our doors will receive the best start to life with premium nutrition, extensive socialization, DNA testing and most importantly, LOVE!
Lillie’s favorite pastimes include reading, spending time with her personal flock and going on adventures with her boyfriend and two dogs, Sparrow and Baylor. Despite her family’s disappointment, Lillie sometimes enjoys getting new bird tattoos at the local parlor. Once finished, you can spot her cruising into the sunset with her avian vanity license plate and her birdie bumper stickers! We LOVE her unmistakable commitment to our feathered friends!
Lillie ended 2025 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a minor in Biology from Old Dominion University. She is not only exceptional at deciphering animal behavior, but she is savvy cracking the code with human behavior as well! Her ability to pour her energy into our birds while effectively matching them with responsible owners perfectly aligns with our purpose-driven mission of “Enhancing the Human-Avian Bond.” BDH is thrilled to onboard Lillie as our Acquisition/Curation Manager.
Therapy Bird, Boo
Boo is a 41‑year‑old umbrella cockatoo with an extraordinary story of resilience. Boo was discovered during a police raid confined to a cramped pen beside his closest companion, who had died from neglect and starvation. This early trauma would shape much of Boo’s misunderstood behavior for years to come.
Following the raid, Boo was transported to a local SPCA, where he was deemed unsuitable as a companion animal due to his intense “feather flare‑ups” when humans approached—responses rooted in fear rather than aggression. In an attempt to provide companionship, Boo was placed into a shared enclosure with another cockatoo. Tragically, that decision resulted in Boo losing a toe after his new cage mate became aggressive.
Despite being labeled as “challenging,” Boo was adopted by Nedra, who recognized his need for patience, consistency, and understanding. For the next 20 years, she provided him with stability and care, sharing her home with Boo and another cockatoo, LuLu. Over time, Boo developed blindness, and as his needs changed, Boo began to exhibit stress behaviors. As Nedra aged, she made the selfless and difficult decision to seek a permanent home where Boo’s evolving medical and emotional needs could be fully supported.
Boo and Amy were first introduced at a meeting of the Peninsula Caged Bird Society. Just one week after Amy and her husband had agreed that they could not take on a large bird due to lifestyle considerations, something unmistakable occurred. When Nedra asked Amy if she would like to hold Boo, Amy jokingly said, “I love him—I want him.” Nedra simply replied, “He’s yours.”
Two weeks later, Boo moved into the Hurst home. At the time, he was blind, underweight due to limited mobility and muscle loss, and in the early stages of kidney disease. Amy immediately sought specialized veterinary care through NC State Exotics to determine whether Boo was a candidate for an innovative eye procedure. For two months, Amy worked diligently to improve Boo’s overall health, giving him the best possible chance for a successful outcome. At the age of 40—after more than a decade of blindness—Boo regained his sight.
Shortly after his recovery, a video of Boo joyfully responding “Yes” when Amy asked if he could see her went viral, touching hearts around the world and bringing widespread attention to his remarkable journey.
Following Boo’s recovery, Amy completed her certifications as an Animal‑Assisted Intervention Specialist and an Animal‑Assisted Therapist. Boo was evaluated and certified as a therapy bird through Pet Partners, earning a perfect evaluation score. Together, Amy and Boo are recognized as a “complex‑approved” therapy team, participating in Animal‑Assisted Therapy (AAT), Animal‑Assisted Education (AAE), and Animal‑Assisted Activities (AAA).
Boo’s resilience, gentleness, and affectionate nature—once misunderstood—have since become the foundation of his work supporting others. His story serves as a powerful testament to the impact of informed care, patience, and the transformative potential of the human–animal bond.
