In brief
Mitchell Fairbarn, a 34‑year‑old Canadian, was found guilty of animal cruelty for stealing a Chilean flamingo named Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Video footage showed Fairbarn carrying the bird by the neck on a hotel elevator after consuming 30 to 40 beers. He claimed it was a harmless prank, but expert witnesses described the flamingo’s mangled feathers and blood loss. The jury convicted him of felony and misdemeanor animal abuse charges, and he now remains on house arrest pending a December sentencing hearing. Peachy has largely recovered, though remains wary of humans.
A Canadian man has been convicted of animal cruelty after he took a flamingo from its enclosure in Las Vegas and brought it back to his hotel room during an alcohol‑fuelled binge.
Mitchell Fairbarn, who was visiting the US city, removed the Chilean flamingo named Peachy from the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino in March. CCTV footage showed Fairbarn smiling as he carried the bird by the neck while riding an elevator to his room. He admitted drinking between 30 and 40 beers before the incident and claimed he never intended to hurt the animal.
Animal experts at the trial testified that Peachy’s feathers were torn and the bird suffered blood loss as a result of Fairbarn’s actions. A veteran lawyer for Fairbarn described the theft as a harmless prank and blamed alcohol for the defendant’s “bad decisions.” The lawyer also noted that the defendant received death threats since his arrest.
Fairbarn, 34, testified that he thought it would be “funny” to take the bird after a night of heavy drinking and a conversation with a colleague. He has remained under house arrest in Las Vegas and must attend a sentencing hearing in December.
Peachy has largely recovered from the ordeal, though a state veterinarian noted the flamingo now shows increased anxiety around humans. The Flamingo Las Vegas, located on the famous Las Vegas Strip, offers a wildlife habitat that is free to walk through and features a flock of Chilean flamingos, other birds, fish and turtles. The trial involved 14 witnesses and over 112 pieces of evidence, and the jury took about five hours to convict Fairbarn on both felony and misdemeanor animal abuse charges.
