Veterinarian pleads guilty in death of office parrot

HOWELL, N.J. - A Monmouth County veterinarian has pleaded guilty to failing to properly care for his office's parrot, which died when temperatures fell.

Mahmoud Hussein admitted Wednesday in Municipal Court that he failed to provide adequate food and shelter to Tickles. The Conure parrot, which was kept in an unheated entryway of Hussein's veterinary office in Howell Township, was found dead in October after temperatures dipped into the 40s.

Monmouth County SPCA chief Victor "Buddy" Amato said parrots were tropical animals that couldn't handle cold. - AP