Deputies: Man bites off parrot's head during billiards game

news-journalonline ^ | update: February 7, 2005 | STAFF REPORT

[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.

[HHFi]

Dittos to you. The flip remarks on this thread disgust me, and make it abundantly clear that these people know nothing about parrots. "Livestock"?!

I currently have 13 parrots of all types, mostly handicapped, lost or abused rescue birds. They are amazingly intelligent, and each bird has his own very distinct personality and communicates better than a lot of people I know. They're like my kids. I not only consider this murder, but I can assure you that if this drunken SOB had done that to one of my parrots, it would definitely have been considered a murder case because by the time the cops arrived, he would have been beaten to a bloody pulp with a pool cue and his own empty head severed with my pocket knife.

[ladtx]

Close but no cigar.

One entry found for geek.

Main Entry: geek
Pronunciation: 'gEk
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from English dialect geek, geck fool, from Low German geck, from Middle Low German
1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake
2:a person often of an intellectual bent who is disapproved of

[Protagoras]

Close but no cigar.

Close was all I was aiming for. Since I hit what I was aiming for, it was a direct hit. :^}

Seriously, I knew that, but expanded it just a tad to include other birds. I prefer canaries myself.

And I don't smoke cigars anymore.

[ladtx]

Seriously, I knew that, but expanded it just a tad to include other birds. I prefer canaries myself.

LOL! In vietnam our gun platoon pilots expanded it to include lizards.

[Blowtorch]

The flip remarks on this thread disgust me, and make it abundantly clear that these people know nothing about parrots.

I agree. Incidents such as these shouldn't be taken so lightly, in my opinion. What kind of a freak would do something like this anyways? The felony charge is appropriate in this case, although it will likely be scaled down.

[richmwill]

Who the hell brings a parrot to a bar anyway? Sure, it's horrible what happened, but why do some people have to bring their pets with them everywhere? What's next, people bringing their dogs into restaurants with them?

[Angry Enough]

'E's a Norwegian Blue, 'e is. (or was)

[najida]

Thanks guys. The flip remarks are just, argh...
I can't find the word for
"So angry I could reach through the monitor and shake them until their lil head goes Wobbity Wobbity".

If he had done this to one of my Fids, he would be SO hurtin' by the time the cops got there.

Just damn.

And HHFi, thank you for doing rescue work with these birds.

[Charlespg]

Dittos to you. The flip remarks on this thread disgust me, and make it abundantly clear that these people know nothing about parrots. "Livestock"?!

same here

this guy should be Charged with a felony and do some time at hard labor Idiots that abuse animals,often end up abusing people or worse

Because its "just a animal" is not a excuse for sadism,or just killing for fun
let This A##hole pay a $3000+ fine and spend the next 16 months breaking rocks

[RichardW]

There are a lot of bird lovers who would like to bite his head off. Don't these birds live for a very long time? I believe they can live as long as 100 years.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Something doesn't add up here. I'd be interested to know what breed of bird it was. I'm interested because the head of what most people call 'parrots' wouldn't fit inside of the mouth of just about any human being.

When the buzz was about Ozzy biting off the head of a dove...that's plausible because the head of a dove is small. But a parrot? I think we need some additional info here.

[thulldud]

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?

See Acts 15.28,29 if you are wondering about the applicability of the dietary laws to us goyim.

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).

No.

<choking on longer, more colorfully worded answer>

[Flpoop]

"Cracker wants a Polly?"

[MetalHeadConservative35]

Note: Never invite Ozzy to play pool. Bad things happen. you said it

[RightOnline]

I bet the parrot's last words were "Oh sh..........."

[ibbryn]

Thanks for the ref. Any comments of the aplicability of Old Testament laws regarding livestock to this situation?

[TexasRepublic]

Parrot - the other white meat. Tastes like chicken.

[ScottM1968]

I understand your stance and it is very reasonable.

However, if regard to food, Paul told us that God has made all food acceptable to us, so yes, I eat shellfish and pork. :-)

Honestly, all killing of animals is "inhumane". It doesn't matter if is outside or inside, by a animal control officer (and those animals are often healthy and ownable) or by a slaughterhouse.

What we as humans must come to grips with is that we have dominion over animals and are to be good stewards of animals in general.

But again, I am happy with the method given us in the Old Testament on handling such circumstances. As the Old Testament describes stoning for adulterous women, I would suggest that the OT way provides perhaps the absolute harshest treatment on every count. And no, I'm not for stonings!

Najida: Those are unbelievable costs for those prized pets! I would be turning to vomit before I hit the guy for all that was involved.

[thulldud]

I don't think the poster (ScottM1968) actually meant the laws were applicable in any strict legal sense, but that it's interesting to see the way responsibility is defined in them.

Jesus said once, in response to a question, that the first great commandment is to "love the Lord God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength," and that the second great commandment was similar: "love your neighbor as yourself." He then added, "On these two hang all the law and the prophets", meaning that the same principles can be found underlying all Scripture.

AFAIK, those two great commandments have not been repealed or superseded, so it's quite reasonable to refer to OT livestock laws as a way of getting a handle on them in such situations as this.

[G.Mason]

From ... "He is a murderer in my mind."

To ...

"Although I share your outrage regarding cruelty to animals this should never be moralized as the equivalent of murder."

I have come to the conclusion that the two of you would do a good comedy act.

Keep practicing, you're doing great. ;)