Rooster's head bitten off
New York, NY (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Jun 28, 2006
County: New York
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Humberto Rodriguez
A man accused of biting the head off his pet rooster was arrested on July 28 and faces up to a year in prison if convicted, an animal protection spokesman said. A neighbor had complained about a dead rooster near his Manhattan apartment and agents found the body of the beheaded rooster on a fire escape, said Joe Pentangelo, spokesman for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The rooster's head was not located.
Humberto Rodriguez, 52, told agents that he bit the rooster's head off because he blamed it for injuring a pet pigeon that he also kept in the apartment, Pentangelo said.
Rodriguez is charged with animal cruelty and could face up to a year in prison if convicted. It is also illegal to possess a live rooster in New York City, Pentangelo said.
Pentangelo said Friday night he did not know whether Rodriguez had a lawyer.
Neighbors called the ASPCA on June 29 after Rodriguez left the headless rooster on his fire escape.
Special Agent Joseph Lemos arrested Rodriguez on July 28 after a nearly month-long investigation. He was charged with one count of animal cruelty, according to ASPCA Special Agent Joseph Pentangelo.
Rodriguez, who admitted to biting off the rooster's head, told agents he used to walk his pet on a leash at a nearby park.
It is illegal to own a rooster in New York City. References« NY State Animal Cruelty Map
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