Rooster rescued; fowl play suspected

By GWEN ALBERS

Western News Reporter

Libby police on Friday rescued a soaked and shivering rooster tied to a makeshift sign that read "Eet Beff."

Police found the uninjured male chicken in the playground next to the Libby Public Schools Central Administration building at U.S. Highway 2 and Louisiana Avenue.

As of Monday, police had no suspects. The culprits face charges of theft of livestock and cruelty to animals, said Libby patrolman David Knopf.

"This isn't funny," Knopf said. "We're taking this very seriously. We are not going to tolerate animal cruelty in any shape or form. We're just really happy the rooster wasn't hurt."

At about 7:30 a.m., police received a call from someone about the rooster.

When Knopf went to the playground, he found the bird tied to the sign with a 10- to 12-foot nylon rope. The rope was tied around the rooster's ankle.

The suspect made the sign from a pizza box and attached it to a stick, Knopf said.

He's not sure whether the incorrect spelling of "Eat Beef" was significant.

"They're probably morons," Knopf said. "I think whoever did it, went to some trouble. They probably stole the rooster from wherever and got a pizza box."

He thinks the rooster was tied to the sign from four to five hours. It got wet after the sprinklers came on at about 6 a.m.

"When I picked him up, he was pretty tame and he was pretty nervous," Knopf said. "He had been distressed. It was put in a nice warm blanket so it could be dried off."

Jessica Drake with Lincoln County Animal Control took the rooster to the shelter off Pipe Creek Road.

"He's just crowing and carrying on," Drake said. "He's just fine, eating good and drinking good."

Drake has no idea what the motivation was behind tying the rooster to the sign.

"If it was a prank or somebody trying to make a statement, I don't know," she said.

Police hope to find the rooster's owner.

Several people who heard the police dispatch over the scanner have asked about adopting the rooster, Knopf said.

The owner or those interested in adopting the bird can call the animal shelter at 293-4040.