Prisoner Sues After Pet Parrot Dies

An ex-con is suing a prison warder who he claims denied him a phone call that would have saved his pet parrot’s life.

Thomas Goodrich is seeking a total of $500,000 (£347,000) in punitive damages from the Delaware Department of Correction Commissioner and a warden at the correctional institution.

He was being held for 12 days over an outstanding arrest warrant and an expired driving licence when he claims he was denied the chance to contact a friend to feed Freddie - a £15,000 gold and blue macaw which had been his beloved pet for 20 years.

Mr Goodrich said when he was finally released on December 19, he found Freddy dead. Two other parrots, both Amazons, survived. “They apparently had enough food in their cages,” he said.