Posted on 02/07/2005 10:43:28 AM PST by RedBloodedAmerican
A New Smyrna Beach man who witnesses said bit off a parrot's head during a billiards game faces animal cruelty charges, the Volusia County Sheriff's spokesman said today.
Bruce J. Coates, 34, told deputies he had been drinking and couldn’t remember what happened. But witnesses told investigators that during a billiards game early Sunday morning, Coates grabbed the parrot off the shoulder of another player, put the bird’s head in his mouth and bit it off, said spokesman Gary Davidson.
The incident occurred at a party the recreation room of the Saddle Club Estates community near S.R. 44 and S.R. 415. Coates fled the clubhouse after the 1 a.m. incident.
The parrot’s owner called the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office at about 8 a.m. Sunday to report the incident. When contacted by deputies later, Coates said he was sorry and offered to replace the parrot, according to Davidson.
Coates has been charged with a felony count of animal cruelty and one count of criminal mischief, a misdemeanor offense. The Sheriff’s Office plans to seek a warrant for Coates’ arrest.
Although I share your outrage regarding cruelty to animals this should never be moralized as the equivalent of murder.
The "victim" was an animal and the perp should be brought up on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and then sued in civil court by the owner.
NeverGore :^)
Beheading results in immediate death for the animal - how is that cruel?
"If that was his animal, he should be allowed to do that.
To make this a felony is wrong."
It wasn't his animal. He offered to replace it however, that isn't going to cut it, or it wouldn't w/me. Parrots can live 80 to 100 years and can take years to train and bond with their owners. They are intelligent and have very distinctive and individual personalities.
What this guy did is worse than biting the head off of your favorite puppy. I wouldn't send him to prison for it, but he should probably have to pay the Parrots owner $20,000 to $30,000.
We are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Hunting dove and quail legally and doing all that entails and grabbing a pet parrot off a guys shoulder in a bar then biting it's head off because the biter is so drunk he doesn't even remember doing it are totally different things.
How is it cruelty if the bird's death was quick?
He never knew what bit him....(OK, maybe he did, but still)
("She's annoying, but I'm desparate." "No Bud for you, pretty boy.")
Tastes like chicken?
Gives new meaning to the term, "Parrothead."
I guess we'll see a new Taco Bell commercial.
"What are you?"
"I'm a pirate. What are you?"
"I'm full."
Indeed it was not. But if it were, he should be able to do this, although it is rather horrendous in nature.
It should be a misdemeanor, though. I would have punched him if he'd done it to my puppy, but I wouldn't have pushed anything beyond restitution. The Old Testament describes how we are to handle such intrusions with livestock owned by others, and I am happy with that.
"Coates said he was sorry and offered to replace the parrot"
Even if he fits in the cage at home, Coates is going to look pretty silly sitting on the guy's shoulder.
LOL! Good catch!
Hey. That damn parrot shouldn't have made that snide remark
about the guy's lousy shot.
I hate it when a bird sits around kibitzing every shot you make.
Chomp,Chomp.
Not to start a religous war, but should I assume you don't eat shellfish and follow all the other teachings of the Old Testament? Isn't there something in there about not beating your wife with a stick thicker than you thumb (I may be wrong on that one).
If someone takes my pet from me and chops their head off a quick punch in the mouth and $50 ain't gonna satisfy me. Parrots can live as long as humans, and my dog is a better friend to me than most people could ever hope to be.
Ozzy meets Monty?
LOL
Like Monday said,
Parrots are long lived animals with IQ's equivalent to that of a 3 year old child. They can develop an extensive vocabulary and can be a tremendous source of comfort and affection.
Oh, yeah, they can run anywhere from a cheap $2000 for a new Macaw hatchling to 10,000 for a Hyacinth Macaw baby to 30,000 for a Black Palm Cockatoo. They ain't cheap pets to start with.
That is BEFORE years of bonding, vet care and training.
The story made me sick to my stomach, because it was like reading about one of my own being killed. To me, a felony isn't near bad enough. However, aren't you glad I ain't Queen of the Universe. ;)
well, of course you are right. But my Maxie was almost human, he really was. Now if a biter wants to lop off the head of my ancient disgusting cat who yowls all day, bites me and is a pain in the neck, I would consider it a public service. To think of it, if the biter bit off some people's heads, you wouldn't hear a peep from me.
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