Jocko was a real raven. He was brought to my animal hospital with a broken wing; and in the time that it took for the healing process and his recovery, we all became very fond of Jocko. After his release several miles away, he showed up on the corral fence and was not afraid of us. Also for a number of years after his release, he would show up with a slice of dry bread or a dry biscuit and soak it in the horse's trough to soften it up.

I had long thought that children might be interested in Jocko's story and decided that the best way to do that was to give him a voice and allow him to experience some of life's important lessons: Friendships are important. If you are in trouble, help is often available. It is fun to help people. Not everyone is going to like you, and that is okay. If something looks too good to be true, use caution. And, yes, cats can learn to open cage latches.