But when one of Brian and Dorothy Richardson's pigeons died, its lonely-hearted mate turned its affections to the couple's sheep dog, Zoe.
And they have been inseparable ever since.
Mrs Richardson said they inherited the pigeons when they bought their Gleniti Road house several years ago and she's not sure what breed of pigeon they were.
When one died just over a year ago, she noticed the other "trying to make friends" with Zoe the sheep dog, who was then just a pup.
Now, wherever the dog goes, the bird goes, Mrs Richardson said.
Even when Zoe is working the sheep.
The bird lands in the paddock while Zoe is working and then flies back to the house with her when she's done.
It sleeps in her kennel, and sits on the edge of her dish when she's eating.
And while Zoe catches a few winks' rest, the bird busies itself with grooming her.
Zoe sometimes snoozes on the lawn with her paw resting on the bird, who lies quite contentedly under its weight.
Mrs Richardson said walkers along Gleniti Road often stopped at the gate to watch the dog and bird wandering around together.
She said Zoe talked to the bird, who hasn't really got a name but is known as Pretty Bird, with a grunting noise, and the bird responded with calls.
The unusual partnership has become an endless source of amusement, but there's one aspect of it that Mrs Richardson doesn't find particularly funny.
The dog is toilet trained. The bird is not.
"I am forever scrubbing the veranda," she said.