A RARE parrot that helps to dish out meals to the homeless at a city soup kitchen has been reunited with his owner after going missing for a full week. 

Mr Mango - who joins volunteers at Homeless Project Scotland’s unit underneath the Heilanman’s Umbrella - flew from his nest in Carluke earlier this month after a window was accidentally left open. 

After “crying for days-on-end”, Mango’s owner, Tina McInness, is relieved to have her beloved Green Cheek Conure Parrot back in her arms. 

Glasgow Times: Mr Mango at Homeless Project Scotland's Glasgow unitMr Mango at Homeless Project Scotland's Glasgow unit

She said: “I bought two new baby parrots of the same breed as Mango, so I let him out of his cage to bond with them. 

“He walked too close to the open gap and ended up escaping. He was missing for one week. I was absolutely devastated – I cried for days-on-end.”

Two volunteers at the charity had been scanning the local Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) website looking to rescue a kitten before they stumbled across a picture of missing Mango. 

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“They recognised him because he has a distinctive mark”, said Tina.

“They instantly contacted me and I went down to the Hamilton rescue centre and got him back. He was so happy to see me, he hopped right onto me.

“The chances of me getting him back are next to none, I’m so grateful to the volunteers at the SPCA and the volunteers at the soup kitchen for reuniting us again.”

Mango has been “bringing joy and happiness” to Homeless Project Scotland’s emergency food aid facility for more than a year now. 

He attends the soup kitchen three times every week – feeding hundreds of people who are either homeless or living in destitute conditions. 

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Tina added: “Three times a week, I will take him down to the soup kitchen. He helps to dish up dinners and brings a smile to everyone’s faces – nobody expects to see him.

“They think it is great that he comes to help out. They always ask lots of questions about him, I think he really brings a lot of cheer to the facility.”

Often, Mango will even enjoy a “wee chip” as a treat from the service users. 

Chairman of the charity, Colin McInness, said: “He comes every day with Tina and comes out from his wee bag and into the unit where he interacts with the volunteers. 

“People absolutely love it when he comes in – he brings a lot of joy and happiness to the place. 

“He has the odd chip from Taco Bell and KFC and loves to swing from cans of juice. Whenever anyone opens one up, he nods his wee head and goes crazy for it. 

“The service users love him, some of them will ask for Mango to come out to see them when they arrive. 

“He comes out to give us a hand fundraising, too. He is a massive part of our family and I’m so grateful he has been reunited with Tina and the team.”

Glasgow Times: Colin McInnes, Chairman at Homeless Project ScotlandColin McInnes, Chairman at Homeless Project Scotland

Vicky Holmes, Assistant Manager at the Scottish SPCA’s Lanarkshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre, said: “We were so glad to see Mr Mango reunited with his family.

“He was so tame and friendly when he came in to the centre that we knew someone must be missing him as he was clearly a well-loved pet.

“Thankfully he was unscathed by his adventure and is back where he belongs.”