This is what you call a
stateless peacock.
Mr. Pete eluded animal control officers, flying to a
rooftop. But the close call triggered an outcry from neighbors, begging
the SPCA to let the bird be. Other bird lovers went straight to the top
of the pecking order, calling the office of New Orleans City
Councilwoman Susan Guidry.
In any case, reflecting on “the scope of their mission,” SPCA officials decided they would not pursue the peacock.
“It is not in our contract to handle wildlife,”
said Alicia Haeferle, a spokeswoman for the SPCA. “Our contract is
companion animals only.”
Meanwhile, the state Wildlife and Fisheries
Department considers the peacock a domesticated creature and not under
its purview, which, ironically, places the blue, green and violet bird
in a gray area.
Article also says there are actually two peacocks roaming the Carrollton area. It's a full blown refugee crisis.
On Thursday, Guidry introduced an ordinance to add
the West Carrollton area, also known as Pigeon Town, to a list of 14
bird sanctuaries in New Orleans.
“This ordinance creates a 15th bird sanctuary in
West Carrollton to provide those protections to the Carrollton peacocks
and parrots, thereby preserving the unique charm and character of one of
our city’s many vibrant neighborhoods,” Guidry said in a statement.
Section 18-341 of the city code makes it unlawful
to harm wild birds in sanctuary areas. The proposal could come up for a
vote May 19.
Uh oh.
Don't tell the Louisiana Legislature. They're trying to make sanctuary cities a no no.
