Horror as California mailman is accused of beating beloved neighborhood peacock with a ROCK after it followed him
A California mailman is under investigation after security footage allegedly showed him striking a beloved neighbourhood peacock with a rock and then a club or stick in Pasadena. The bird, known as Sugar, had followed the postal worker to his delivery truck when the alleged attack occurred, sparking outrage among residents who had long cared for the animal as a local fixture.
Schoolteacher Gina Davis, who had watched over Sugar for years, reviewed her home security footage after noticing the bird was disoriented and refusing to eat or drink. Pasadena Humane rescued Sugar and found minor wounds and swelling but no broken bones, and vets say his prognosis is positive. Animal Control has opened a cruelty investigation and is seeking further footage, while the US Postal Service is also investigating; the mail carrier has not been publicly named. Davis says she does not want the man fired but hopes he is reassigned, and that Sugar can eventually return to a safe home.
- Pasadena mailman allegedly beat local peacock "Sugar" with a rock and club
- Bird survived with minor wounds, no broken bones, under vet observation
- USPS and Animal Control both investigating the incident
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Pasadena is home to a well-known population of free-roaming peacocks, descendants of birds introduced to the area more than a century ago, and many have become familiar fixtures cared for informally by residents in their neighbourhoods. Sugar was one such bird, looked after for years by a local schoolteacher who, along with neighbours, treated him as a much-loved part of the community.
The case involves a postal worker, whose job is to deliver mail on a set daily route, and allegations that he harmed the bird while out on his rounds. Incidents like this typically draw in local agencies responsible for animal welfare, such as animal control services and humane societies, which investigate reports of cruelty, as well as the postal worker's employer, since any wrongdoing on the job can have professional consequences.
The story matters because it touches on how communities and public workers interact with wildlife that many residents consider part of neighbourhood life, and because allegations of animal cruelty typically trigger a formal investigation to determine what happened and whether any laws were broken.