Humane Society of Huron Valley seeks permanent custody of parrot that was violently shaken by Jackson man
Labamba in its cage at the Humane Society of Huron Valley.
The Humane Society of Huron Valley still aims to get permanent custody of Labamba — an Amazon parrot that was violently shaken by a Jackson man on an Ann Arbor street in September, Matt Schaecher, supervisor of cruelty and rescue, told AnnArbor.com today.
Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Melinda Morris sentenced Christopher Alan Turpen Monday to 10 months in jail with credit for 101 days served.
Turpen's lawyer, assistant public defender Stephen M. Adams, declined to comment on the sentencing.
Labamba is currently with the Humane Society of Huron Valley and living in Schaecher’s office, Schaecher said today. The bird is Turpen’s mother’s pet, and Adams said Monday that Turpen would like to see it returned to her.
“The bird is still with us now and we will be seeking permanent custody,” Schaecher said. If the owner does not voluntarily surrender the bird, the humane society will seek custody in court, Schaecher said.
Schaecher said the cost of the care Labamba has received during its stay with the humane society is about $5,000, and if the owner wants and gets the bird back, she would be responsible for those fees.
If the humane society gets permanent custody of the bird, it would then be made available for adoption, Schaecher said.
Ann Arbor police told AnnArbor.com in September that Turpen, who kept the Amazon parrot in his backpack, shook it violently in the 1000 block of South Main Street as its feathers flew, causing enough commotion for three witnesses to call 911. Officers arrested Turpen on Main Street at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and found an unspecified quantity of marijuana in his backpack, Ann Arbor police Lt. Mark St. Amour said.
Turpen told police he was disciplining and training the bird. Police said the parrot fought back, leaving one of Turpen's thumbs scratched and bloodied.
Heather Lockwood is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at heatherlockwood@annarbor.com or follow her on Twitter.
Comments
oldblueypsi
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 10:11 p.m.
Has a guardian ad litem been appointed for the bird? Since adoption proceedings appear to be imminent, the parrot's interests need to be protected. The local bar (legal, not alcoholic) should find someone to take this case pro bono.
joe.blow
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 1:11 a.m.
Notice how the ealier comments are about the poor bird, and as the working class people get off to read the article, the comments turn into more of a shock that they spent this much on dinner?
jcj
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 1:03 a.m.
This parrot is not the only one out of its tree!
jcj
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 1:01 a.m.
If this bird is so smart as some have stated in an earlier article. Then have the potential future guardians line up across the room and see who the bird flies to. If these parrots remember things for ever as has been stated then it will remember its rightful owner and decide if that's who it wants to be with.
BirdOwner
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 12:28 a.m.
I do not think that Labamba should go back to his original owner because when Christopher Turpen gets out of jail he will probably have contact with the bird again if his mother get Labamba back. I would like to adopt Labamba if I had a chance to. I have a lot of experience with birds and he would be a great addition to my family.
Will Warner
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 12:23 a.m.
If the Humane Society can spend $5000 on the care of one bird, the organization is better funded than I thought. (How much of the 5K went to psychiatric care for the parrot's PTSD I wonder.) Quickly find it a good home or euthanize it. It's a bird.
MjC
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 1:19 a.m.
It's a living breathing part of this earth we share.
joe.blow
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 11:36 p.m.
$5K for a bird? There are people homeless in detroit, there are children in this county who will not eat a full meal, there are children being abused and can't be taken to safe custody because protective services isn't funded to the max. Yet they're spending $5K on this bird? Pluck the feathers, throw it in an oven and feed it to the hungry!
ferdcom
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
Enough, enough, enough.
Roadman
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 8:42 p.m.
The bird should not be returned to its owner since she obviously carelessly gave it to someone who was not responsible for its good care. If that return did happen the chances of further abuse would be very high. This parrot should be placed for adoption in a caring home.
A2townie
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.
The headline states, the Humane Society of Huron Valley is seeking permanent custody of the bird. There is a contradiction error in the third paragraph. "Labamba is currently with the Humane Society of Huron Valley and living in Schaecher's office, Schaecher said today. The bird is Turpen's mother's pet, and Adams said Monday that Schaecher would like to see it returned to her. I would not like to see the bird returned to the mother of Christopher Turpen. Turpen will get out of prison one day and may seek revenge on the bird. I believe this type of bird lives a very long time.
Heather Lockwood
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 8:36 p.m.
Thank you for your comment. The story has been corrected to read, "The bird is Turpen's mother's pet, and Adams said Monday that Turpen would like to see it returned to her."
A2K
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 8:03 p.m.
Hopefully he/she'll go to a good new home...and perhaps get a new name *bleh!*
grye
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 8:03 p.m.
Maybe the parrot should be asked where it would like to reside. How about just setting it free? Of course all it really wants is a cracker!
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.
"Schaecher said the cost of the care Labamba has received during its stay with the humane society is about $5,000, and if the owner wants and gets the bird back, she would be responsible for those fees" seems a bit like extortion to me. Would the Humane Society be willing to itemize that tab?
joe.blow
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 2 a.m.
It's not that I didn't want the parot helped, I would just rather see the $5,000 go towards helping HUMANS in a world where HUMANS are suffering. It's okay to euthanize animals once injured! Save the money for a person.
MjC
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 1:17 a.m.
@joe.blow - There is a lot of sorrow and pain in this world and each and every time we step up and help a human, an animal, a tree, or whatever to make this world a better place than that is a GOOD thing. I'm grateful to the witnesses who contacted the police when they saw this poor animal being abused. If animals aren' your thing , Joe Blow, then I hope you volunteer some place, contribute to a charity of your choice, and/or have the guts to report a crime when one is in progress.
joe.blow
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 11:29 p.m.
$5K for a bird? There are people homeless in detroit, there are children in this county who will not eat a full meal, there are children being abused and can't be taken to safe custody because protective services isn't funded to the max. Yet they're spending $5K on this bird? Pluck the feathers, throw it in an oven and feed it to the hungry!
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 8:12 p.m.
In another story about the situation it was said .... "But assistant public defender Stephen M. Adams, who is representing Turpen, said a veterinarian with the Humane Society of Huron Valley, examined the bird shortly after the incident and testified that all of the bird's injuries were superficial." If that is true, how did superficial injury's get to $5000. Maybe the mother shouldn't have the bird. Maybe she is negligent. But has the Humane Society made any effort to prove that or verify?
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 8 p.m.
My problem bedrog is where the owner was negligent. That is my question. The guy that shook the bird didn't own the bird. I have not seen an explanation of how or why he had the bird. Maybe I missed it in another article. How do you know the woman who owns the bird is an "accomplice" and not a victim? That is all I'm asking.
bedrog
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
This particular humane society is one of the finest in the country and has just won a top award for its exceptionally low rate of euthenization of and high rate of placement for rescued animals. It has an active veterinary surgical staff and a state of the art facility overall, all of which has a price tag. If they give a figure for their care in this case ( and want a negligent owner to pony up or not get her bird back) im totally inclined to trust their judgement , since they are in the business---and damn good at it.. of cleaning up other peoples messes on the animal care front.
Garrett
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 7:22 p.m.
You just click the highlighted words/phrases in the article and it will take you to other articles about the same subject.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 6:43 p.m.
I have not followed this story in great detail, has there been an explanation of how the parrot was in the hands of someone other than the actual owner?
Indicat
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.
I think Labamba should remain at the Humane Society until he can be adopted out into a new home. I would be concerned about retaliation if he were returned to the home of Mr. Turpen's mother.
Roadman
Wed, Mar 30, 2011 : 2:21 a.m.
Maybe he could be put into the Fowl Witness Protection Program.
Indicat
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 10:59 p.m.
My fear is that Mr. Turpen could choose to retaliate. Or, depending on the relationship between him and his mother, She could be upset that her son is being jailed because of the bird.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 8 p.m.
retaliation from whom?
RJA
Tue, Mar 29, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.
I like this plan! Please keep the bird there to be cared for.