Drunk Vegas tourist steals flamingo from casino

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He said he spent March 2 gambling and drinking an estimated 30 to 40 beers. He then stopped at the flamingo habitat around 5 a.m. – drunk, sleep-deprived and on a call. He mentioned entering the habitat to look at a bird with “uneven” wings while also acknowledging he shouldn’t go in.

Inside, he said he sat with one flamingo (not Peachy) then grabbed Peachy as a “silly pranky joke” to photograph, carried the bird to his room for “two or three minutes” put it in the hallway and was arrested changing to return it.

Fairbarn also mentioned being on house arrest. He has not been able to return to Canada since.

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LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) - A man accused of stealing a flamingo from its Las Vegas Strip habitat took the stand at his own trial, saying he now realizes how big of a mistake it was.

Mitchell Fairbarn, 34, is facing two counts of animal cruelty after he allegedly stole a flamingo named Peachy from the Flamingo Hotel and Casino while drunk in March.

Police say Fairbarn, a tourist from Ontario, Canada, was seen on security camera around 5 a.m. March 3 hopping a fence to get inside the flamingo habitat. Fairbarn is accused of taking Peachy from the habitat and carrying the bird to his hotel room.

Peachy was injured in the incident. The flamingo’s treating veterinarian said the bird had seven to eight missing feathers, broken shafts and blood loss that were consistent with trauma. She added that Peachy needed antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and weeks of pain medication.

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