Gina Davis checked her home security footage and says a mail carrier was caught throwing a rock at a Pasadena peacock before hitting it again. The bird, which she and her daughter call Sugar, is now at Pasadena Humane’s Wildlife Center while Pasadena Humane Animal Control and Postal Service investigators review the incident.
“Pretty much the entire neighborhood knows him, takes care of him,” Davis said of the peacock, describing a bird that has lived in her neighborhood for years. She said the video shows the peacock standing in front of the truck, the worker getting out with “a club or stick or something,” and striking it in the head or neck.
Gina Davis footage
Davis, a Pasadena schoolteacher, said she was shocked after rewatching the recording. “It’s heartbreaking to watch,” she said. “We are very sad.” The footage drew outrage from neighbors and led to reviews by both postal and animal welfare authorities.
A neighbor called Pasadena Humane because the bird was disoriented and would not eat or drink. Pasadena Humane worked with the bird in the neighbor’s backyard before moving him to Pasadena Humane’s Wildlife Center. Kevin McManus said the peacock “has been examined by one of our veterinarians, who noted several minor wounds with areas of swelling,” and added, “X-rays were taken, and thankfully, nothing appears to be broken.”
Pasadena Humane’s Wildlife Center
McManus said the prognosis is good and the bird will be monitored for several days more. Pasadena Humane Animal Control is looking for additional footage from neighbors as part of the review, while postal authorities have not identified the mailman in the video.
Kristina Uppal said postal employees in the area have had previous encounters with peacocks and that the Postal Service has been working with Pasadena Humane on concerns involving the birds. She said, “We take allegations of inappropriate conduct seriously and will take appropriate action, as warranted, consistent with Postal Service policies.”
Postal Service route
Davis said she does not want the worker fired. “I don’t want to see him fired, but I would like to see him given a different route,” she said. The case now turns on what the Postal Service decides to do with the unidentified mail carrier while Pasadena Humane’s review continues.
