A Canadian tourist has been found guilty of animal cruelty after taking a flamingo named Peachy from its habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas hotel and bringing the frightened and injured bird to his hotel room as a prank.
33-year-old Mitchell Fairbarn said he drank 30-to-40 beers that day back in March and never intended to hurt the bird. His lawyer argued it was a drunken mistake, not an intentional act of cruelty, but a jury convicted him on both felony and misdemeanor charges. Peachy was later found with missing feathers, blood on its plumage, and wing injuries.
The Ontario man remains under house arrest and faces up to four years in prison when he’s sentenced in December. Veterinarians say Peachy has recovered physically but remains more anxious and nervous since the incident. Animal rights advocates say the verdict sends a message that animal abuse won’t be tolerated in Nevada. (KLAS-TV Las Vegas)