Hungry Cockatoo Helping Himself to Dog's Food Is Cracking People Up

When we talk about hungry pets, people are usually talking about dogs. It's pretty common for them to try to eat as much human food as they can get their paws on, whether they're begging, borrowing, or stealing... and we've all seen a dog throw a tantrum when their parents aren't even two minutes late serving them dinner, whether in a video online or in our own kitchens. But dogs are hardly the only pets who make food a very big priority in their lives.

And no, I'm not talking about cats (though mine do take their meal times extremely seriously). Even our feathered friends like the Cockatoo in this TikTok video are not playing around when it comes to food — and they are willing to eat what is technically meant for a totally different species if they have to!

On Monday, October 7, @busterrthecockatoo on TikTok shared this footage of their Cockatoo, Buster — who is referred to as a "dog-a-too" in the caption of the video — sneaking some food right out of a dog bowl on the kitchen floor.

"There you go. Have some dog food. They're not eating it," his mom can be heard saying in the background of the video as he helps himself to some kibble.

I also really have to admit I'm impressed with Buster's gumption. Most birds (or animals in general) simply would not have the gumption to steal a dog's food, knowing how attached they are to it. Buster doesn't seem even the slightest bit concerned!

That didn't change when the dog who that food was supposed to belong to returned to the bowl and just ended up eating the food that Buster scattered all over the floor in his haste. In many homes, that would have been the start of a fight.

At least everyone was fed!

Can Birds Eat Dog Food?

After I was done aww-ing over this video, my first thought was about whether or not it's actually safe for a bird to eat food meant for dogs or not.

The answer I found? Well, it's yes and no. On one hand, most dog food is okay as a very occasional snack, which is what I assume is Buster's situation. But on a regular basis, not so much. According to BirdTipper, dry kibble can be hard for birds to digest , and doesn't contain the nutrients that birds need to function and thrive.

Some dog food also includes ingredients that are harmful to birds, like avocado, rhubarb, nuts, or tomato, so of course, it's important to check your ingredients list before allowing your dog and bird to share a snack.

Hopefully, Buster doesn't make this a regular habit... but something tells me that if the dog food was upsetting his tummy he would surely make that known!