▲ The Canadian national found guilty of animal abuse.
A Canadian tourist is facing potential criminal punishment for animal cruelty after drunkenly stealing a flamingo that served as the mascot of the U.S. hotel where he was staying.
According to the British daily The Times on October 20, a Nevada grand jury found Mitchell Fairburn, a Canadian national, guilty of animal abuse on October 19 local time.
While staying at a hotel in Las Vegas last March, Fairburn, who was heavily intoxicated, stole a flamingo from the hotel's outdoor enclosure and took it to his guest room.
Closed-circuit television footage shown in court captured Fairburn wandering around the enclosure, grabbing a 27-year-old flamingo named Peach, cradling it in his arms, and carrying it to his hotel room.
Peach, who was dragged away squawking, was released into the hallway two to three minutes later.
Peach lost eight feathers, bled, and sustained injuries to its wings.
Although Peach has recovered its health, it reportedly remains wary of people.
Prosecutors argued that Fairburn intentionally harmed Peach, pointing out that flamingo feathers were discovered in his room.
In court, Fairburn testified that he thought it was something he could joke about for the rest of his life, claiming he had no malicious intent.
His defense attorney also explained that Fairburn had consumed 30 to 40 glasses of beer over a 24-hour period, committing a harmless prank, and that he regrets his actions at the time.
Fairburn is currently under house arrest in Nevada ahead of his sentencing hearing scheduled for December 1.
If convicted, he could face up to four and a half years in prison.
Animal rights advocates welcomed the jury's decision.
Jon Wardby, who contributed to the recent strengthening of Nevada's animal cruelty prevention laws, emphasized that this measure will serve as a warning to anyone who mistreats animals that such behavior will not be tolerated in Nevada.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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