Man arrested for allegedly feeding pet parakeet marijuana and beer
A Pennsylvania man was arrested on animal cruelty charges after allegedly giving marijuana and beer to his pet parakeet, according to reports.
Timothy Grace, 40, was taken into custody on February 21 after bringing his injured budgie, named “Blue Skies,” in his pocket to Callaghan’s Bar in Greensburg, CBS Pittsburgh reported. Police radio transmissions revealed that a bartender called authorities after noticing the bird at the bar.
“The caller’s a bartender. She says there is a white male at the bar with a parakeet,” a dispatcher said, according to the transmissions obtained by CBS Pittsburgh.
Detective Sergeant Justin Scalzo told the outlet that Grace “was bragging to other people inside the bar that he feeds the parakeet marijuana and has it drink beer on a daily basis.”
When police arrived, Grace “appeared extremely intoxicated,” and they found Blue Skies in distress. “Its leg appeared to be broken,” Scalzo said, according to WTAE. “Its foot was actually facing the wrong direction.”
Grace was initially arrested for public intoxication and now faces additional charges, including aggravated cruelty to animals and transporting animals in a cruel manner.
The parakeet was taken to PEARL Parrot Rescue in the Pittsburgh area, which rushed him to an emergency care facility. Blue Skies spent four days in the hospital and was later placed in foster care with Teri Grendzinski, the president of PEARL. The bird remains on antibiotics, must wear a splint on his right leg, and continues to have breathing difficulties, CBS reported.
“They realized his leg was broken. He also had some respiratory issues going on,” Grendzinski told the outlet. “He was also very, very skinny.”
Grendzinski added that the injury is severe enough that amputation might be necessary if the leg doesn’t heal properly. If Blue Skies is eventually put up for adoption, he will require specialized care.
“When we got that call, it was horrifying. Why would you do that to a bird?” Grendzinski said.
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