[Bob]

By Andrew Dunn
The Ledger

LAKELAND
He didn't quite fly away home, but Baron the cockatiel did eventually end up there. Baron flew away from his owner, Harrison Gross, on Sunday during the first Bless the Animals Day at Lakeland's Temple Emanuel. He ended up at the home of Scott and Amy Franklin, just behind the synagogue.

The Franklins found the bird Sunday afternoon and took the flighty flapper in for the night. The next morning, the family was surprised to see a picture of Harrison and Baron at the synagogue's event prominently displayed in the Monday edition of The Ledger. The boy and his bird were reunited at the Franklins' home later that afternoon.

"I was shocked, I guess," said Harrison, who lives in Plant City. "I was still getting over the initial shock of him flying away yesterday. It's just pretty freaky."

Baron perked up immediately when he perched on Harrison's shoulder -- chirping happily.

Amy Franklin said she was taking the family's dog, Samson, on a walk Sunday when she saw Baron hiding out under a bush in her yard. She coaxed him out with crackers.