‘Cluck Norris’ feathers his nest as popular mascot at senior center
MADISON – After his initial visit in September, ‘Cluck Norris’ has moved on-site with his friends at Madison Senior Center.
Center members named him in their “Name Our Rooster” contest. “As the weather gets chilly, we’re making sure our favorite resident, Cluck Norris the Rooster, is ready for winter!” Program Coordinator Rachael Burrus said.
Cluck first appeared at the center on Aug. 13. “I fed him my potato chips as he was just wandering in the parking lot,” Burrus said. “The next morning, Cluck was at the front of the senior center, and he was home.”
“Cluck is very happy. First of all, he gets fed like a king. Members bring him food from home, and he’s put on much needed weight.”
When he first showed up, he was very skinny and lethargic. “Now, he’s sassy and confident. If he wants attention, he’ll start crowing,” Burrus said.
Susan Witkowski, a Program Coordinator at the center, confirms that Cluck has food and water. They actually became fast friends.
“Susan lives very close to the center so she’s able to check on him over the weekend. Cluck is very close to Susan as he walks besides her and runs to her when she calls out for him. It’s very endearing,” Burrus said.
“Cluck jumps and flutter-flies all over center grounds. He prefers to crow on top of columns, fences and, I’m not kidding, ‘The Madison Record’ newspaper rack,” Burrus said.
Madison Senior Center has a “Bucks for Cluck” fund for food, straw bedding and future veterinary bills, if needed. His care does not involve taxpayer dollars.
Senior center members “absolutely adore him. Many of them take regular pictures and videos of Cluck and send them to family and friends,” Burrus said. “He’ll even peck on a window during a class to get attention, and the members just laugh.”
Burrus thanked Ms. Antionette, the center’s Twist & Loom instructor, for making Cluck his winter beanie. “I think we can all agree that red is his color,” Burrus said about his rooster comb. (Twist & Loom classes meet on Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m.)
Every time members visit the senior center, they look forward to seeing Cluck. “He’s brought a lot of entertainment and joy to our center. I regularly hear members talking in the hallways, asking each other if they’ve seen Cluck,” Burrus said.
Although center members have purchased a mini-coop henhouse for Cluck, he prefers to sleep in an outdoor (clean) trash can located at the front entrance of Madison Community Center.
“By 4:30 p.m., he’s ready for bed as he jumps in the trash can for the night. I’ve seen several people throw trash in the trash can and quickly scream as Cluck squawks or jumps out of the trash can. He’s telling them not to litter his home,” Burrus said laughing.
In addition to Witkowski and Burrus, other caregivers for Cluck include Ashley Harris and Kenneth Brown in the Maintenance Department who clean front-entry ways of the senior center and Madison Community Center; and center member Sharon Dunning, who checks on Cluck every day and feeds him fresh vegetables and fruits.
“Cluck is very attached to Sharon Dunning. She is Cluck’s no.-1 buddy here at the center,” Burrus said.
The center’s address is 1329 Brown’s Ferry Road. For more information, call 256-774-4413; email SeniorCenterInfo@madisonal.gov; or visit madisonal.gov, click “Departments” dropdown menu, click “Parks and Recreation,” and click “Senior Center” in the list at the left.
