The Girl Who Saved 27 Tiny Lives

Seleny Banuelos ’19

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When you walk into the Banuelos’ home, the living room sounds like a thriving rainforest of chirps, barks, and “Holas!”, and the smell of homemade dinner fills the kitchen. Walk a bit further and you can see Ruby, typically standing on her perch. Confusion is usually the reaction people have when they see a giant rainbow feathered macaw towering over them, but for sophomore Seleny Banuelos, Ruby the macaw is just like any other pet.

It all started when she was a child, she wanted to be a vet and loved animals more than anything. So, when she got a call from a woman who could not take care of her twenty-two canaries and her macaw anymore, Seleny opened her heart, and her home to the many birds. “She (the macaw) had a tiny cage, and she had a boyfriend, but he died because they were treated so badly, so we just took her”, Seleny said.

Trying to take care of her now twenty-two canaries, bunny, three dogs, and her macaw Ruby is no easy task, but her parents are happy to help. They have a daily routine where her parents feed and take care of the animals in the morning before Seleny goes to school, and she takes on the responsibility when she gets home.

When she tells people about her situation with her many pets, she says the responses are mixed, “My mom will tell her friends and sometime they say ‘that’s gross!’,but other time they think it is awesome”, she said.

So, if you are in need of some slobbery dog kisses or want to feel like you just walked into a lively forest, a quick trip over to the Banuelos’ house will give you everything you wish for and more.