The pet I’ll never forget: Penny, the pigeon who never left my side

‘I’d be doing my hair or makeup, and all of a sudden, I’d have this pigeon on my shoulder.’ Photograph: Courtesy of Hannah Hall

A few years ago I was sitting in a pub beer garden when a scruffy little pigeon landed on the bench. After a while, the pigeon edged a bit closer to me, and before I knew it she’d hopped on to my lap.

One of the waitresses came over and explained that this pigeon had wandered inside, but sadly some customers kicked her around to get rid of her. She looked quite young. I thought maybe she was a baby. For the next three hours, this pigeon didn’t leave my side. Then I drove home with her on my shoulder.