On July 22, 1978, John D’Alessandro, owner of the Norwood Aquarium, celebrated the return of his prized gold and blue macaw parrot, “Goldie.” The bird, valued at $1,500, had been stolen six months earlier when thieves broke into the shop and took the parrot along with its cage.
D’Alessandro had offered a sizeable reward for Goldie’s return. A man pursuing the reward provided a lead, which D’Alessandro passed on to Waltham police. Officers visited the suspect’s home and discovered a macaw matching Goldie’s description.
When asked how he could be certain the bird was his, D’Alessandro explained, “The bird doesn’t like me. He likes everybody but me. So when I went up to him, he flew away, but he was friendly to all the police officers.” He added, “I trained him and so he’s a little afraid of me.”
The suspect claimed he had purchased the bird from another person. Police continued their investigation, but Goldie was returned to the Norwood Aquarium, where he was reported to be “in great shape.”
This unusual case highlighted both the challenges of pet ownership and the devotion of a local businessman to his animals. For D’Alessandro, the return of Goldie was not only a personal victory but also a moment of joy for the community, which had followed the story of the missing parrot.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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