VIDEO: That’s not my pretty boy! Owner claims she was given wrong budgie back by Northamptonshire pet-minding service

Justine Wery, aged 26, took her four birds to Bruno’s in Whilton Lock Garden Village in Daventry while she was on a fortnight’s holiday at the end of August.

Returning to the shop to pay the £95 fee, she was stunned to find that three of them were present and in good condition but Buddy, her blue budgie was not there.

Instead there was a grey, baby budgie that was seemingly scared of her.

Staff insisted that the budgie was Buddy and said no birds of any sort had died in the intervening two weeks.

Yesterday, a staff member would only say that the matter is “under investigation”. However it is understood that Bruno’s staff have telephoned a number of customers asking if they have a bird resembling Buddy. They have also refunded the fee for minding Buddy.

Mrs Wery said: “I’m really mad, I’m devastated that this can happen.

“The two birds look nothing like each other. Buddy can talk, and his markings are completely different. He’s even a different colour.

“I even showed the staff a photo of him next to their bird and they still didn’t believe me.”

Mrs Wery refused to take the bird from Bruno’s but staff have said she can collect it at anytime.

Buddy can be identified by his distinctive noises such as clicking sounds, Indian ringneck sounds, wolf whistle and kissing sounds. He can also say “Come on then”, “Alfie”, “Charlie”, “Pretty boy” and “No Mumma boys”.