A Canadian man who took a flamingo from a Las Vegas hotel after drinking up to 40 beers has been convicted of animal cruelty. Mitchell Fairbarn, 34, from Ontario, faces nearly five years in prison for the incident.
Fairbarn removed Peachy, a 27-year-old Chilean flamingo, from its habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino on March 3 and carried the bird to his room. Court footage showed Peachy squawking as Fairbarn held the bird by the neck in an elevator and along a hallway, with prosecutors stating the flamingo experienced pain.
Conviction and Penalties
On Monday, Fairbarn was found guilty of felony and misdemeanour animal abuse charges. He could receive up to four years in prison for the felony and an additional six months for the misdemeanour.
During his testimony, Fairbarn said he had drunk between 30 and 40 beers before the incident and insisted he never intended to harm the bird. Prosecutors argued he wilfully caused the flamingo physical pain.
Flamingo's Condition and Aftermath
When Peachy was found, the bird was missing seven to eight feathers, had blood on its feathers, and suffered wing injuries, according to animal experts. Tiffany Moore, medical director of Lone Mountain Animal Hospital, said Peachy is physically fine but has been more anxious and nervous during evaluations since the incident.
Fairbarn's lawyer, Josh Tomsheck, told jurors at trial in a Nevada court that his client deeply regretted the "bad decisions" made while drunk. "He should not have done that, should not have gone into the habitat, shouldn't have touched a bird, shouldn't have taken Peachy inside," Tomsheck said. "The truth is, Mitch was drunk. Mitch was stupid. He made bad decisions."
Fairbarn has been unable to leave the US since the incident and remains under house arrest pending a sentencing hearing set for December 1. Las Vegas police attended the scene after security staff reported the flamingo had been taken.
Nevada animal rights advocate John Waudby, who recently helped strengthen the state's animal cruelty laws, said he believes justice was delivered on Peachy's behalf. "I hope this sends a message to anybody else that wants to mess with our animals, that you're not going to do it in Nevada," he said outside the courtroom after Monday's verdict.
The Flamingo is one of the oldest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, and its well-known flamingo habitat also features hummingbirds, turtles, koi and other species.
