A Canadian man tried to go away Las Vegas with a singular memento – a reside flamingo – and a courtroom discovered him responsible this week.
A jury dominated that Mitchell Fairbarn, 34, was guilty of misdemeanor and felony counts of animal cruelty for the March abduction of the pink chicken named “Peachy” from the Flamingo Casino.
The famed Strip property boasts a four-acre flamingo wildlife habitat, full with meandering streams, waterfalls, unique birds, turtles, and fish. Security video footage confirmed Fairbairn carrying the chicken to his room. He now faces as much as 4 years in jail for the felony rely and 6 months for the misdemeanor.
“We were happy to get a felony animal cruelty conviction just because that’s what we felt happened, so we’re happy with this result,” Clark County Assistant District Attorney Alex Chen advised KVVU.
Abduction Injures Flamingo
The married father of three testified that he snatched the chicken as a “silly pranky joke” after guzzling about 30 to 40 beers all through the day. Security video exhibits a shirtless Fairbairn climbing over an enclosure, getting into the flamingo space, and grabbing the chicken.
Additional Snapchat footage confirmed the Ontario man smiling and laughing with buddies whereas holding the Chilean flamingo.
A veterinarian testified at trial that the incident injured Peachy. The physician mentioned the chicken suffered seven or eight lacking feathers, damaged shafts, and blood loss per trauma. Video confirmed Fairbairn snatching the animal by the neck. The veterinarian mentioned that was inappropriate and will have killed the chicken.
Fairbairn testified that he had no malicious intent and didn’t plan to harm or kill the animal. However, he admitted to injuring the chicken and mentioned, “I’m taking responsibility.”
The decide will sentence Fairbairn on Dec. 1.
Other Animal-Casino Incidents
In 2024, the fountain exhibits on the Bellagio had been paused after a uncommon chicken landed within the 8.5-acre, man-made lake.
In 2023, poker professional Bart Hanson mentioned he was sufferer of a canine coaching rip-off. He mentioned the lady behind the scheme allegedly used cash from the ploy to gas poker and different on line casino playing.
In 2020, the Waze navigation app mistakenly started directing guests to the Borgata in Atlantic City as an alternative of a wildlife refuge 45 minutes away.
