Man Took Zebra and Bird Out on the Town

Jerald Reiter of Cascade, Iowa, was arrested Sunday night for drunk driving with a blood-alcohol level of .148. Police had stopped him to check on the welfare of the passengers in his truck: a zebra and a macaw.

Reiter, 55, told The Des Moines Register that the zebra and parrot are like friends to him and they often spend time indoors and ride in his vehicles. The animals visit neighbors, and the parrot has been on trips to the local feed store, Reiter said.

On Sunday, after doing chores and eating dinner, Reiter said he decided to take the animals to the Dog House, where he thought they’d be allowed.

“I said, ‘Let’s go for a ride. I ain’t been away from the farm for almost two months because I’ve been planting corn and everything else,’” he said. “So I opened the door, the zebra jumps in, the macaw loves to go for a ride, so we went for a ride.”

Reiter says at no time did he leave the animals in the truck alone. He said when police arrived, he was leaving the bar after being told the animals couldn't come in. Link -via Arbroath

With my two (BG macaw/af.grey) . with time comes respect beeewtn the two. In the beginning cages were set on different sides of the room. 4 years later they are on the same wall.My african grey won't hesitate to waddle down get back up on the Macaw's cage and eat his food. and my mac puts up with it. On the other hand if my mac gets on the greys cage? i see fluffed feathers and agitation from the grey.They both do that depending on their moods. but i can safely say my grey is the alpha in this house. And my mac is the more tolerant of the two.But they do play off each other now, they are siblings. I wouldn't say pals. but they live happily together, chat together. Squawk together. I even see my macaw trying to talk lately. which is new. I have since put my cockatiel (flew in last year) in another room. He doesn't find either of the two bigger ones funny or interesting. he would rather be alone. Both the larger ones seemed to just ignore him. i guess she needs more time I have to respect that.

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He should have switched seats with the zebra before the cop got up to the truck.

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So what were the blood alcohol levels on the Zebra and the Parrot?

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I love it! Go Jerry! It appears from the video clip and everything else I've read on other news resources that these animals are very-well taken care of and loved. The baby zebra is tame and friendly as is the bird.