A Palm Beach County judge ruled this morning that the bird, who was summoned to court this morning for the brief hearing, should be returned to Angela Colicheski, 52, of Boca Raton.
African Grey Parrot, Tequila and the media frenzyDELRAY BEACH — Tequila, the African Grey parrot, is going back to his original owner.
Colicheski filed a civil lawsuit asking to have the $2,000 bird who flew away from her three years ago and ended up with another Boca Raton woman. "It's like a birthday," said Colicheski after the hearing, tears in her eyes. "It's my birthday. I couldn't wait to say his name." Tequila flew the coop three years ago, escaping from Colicheski's home and ending up with Sarita Lytell, 47, a fellow bird lover. Lytell has called him "Lucky" since then. In January, Colicheski and Lytell had a chance meeting at a Dunkin' Donuts in Boca Raton. Colicheski, who owns six other exotic birds, spoke of the loss of her beloved Tequila. Lytell told her she found an African Grey scared and dehydrated around that time, just half a mile from Colicheski's home. They quickly realized they were talking about the same bird. As Tequila was brought to court today, he received special treatment. He didn't have to go through the metal detector — or the X-ray machine, for that matter. And when he was brought into the courtroom, he had a flock of media anxiously awaiting every squawk. He made a quick chirp as he came in, but remained silent for the hearing. Colicheski's attorney, Spencer Siegel, argued that there was no doubt that Colicheski was Tequila's rightful owner, so he should be returned immediately. Lytell's attorney, Marcy LaHart, said that because her client took care of the parrot for three years after trying to find the rightful owner, she should get to keep him. Palm Beach County Judge James Martz said the case was unusual, especially because he is a pet lover. But, he said the law was clearly on Colicheski's side. Under Florida law, he said, pets are treated strictly as property. "Pets are chattel, they're no different from your automobile," he said. LaHart disagreed with the judge, in a heated exchange. "Clearly, you have your mind made up without hearing any other evidence," she said. Martz responded by asking Siegel what he wanted. Siegel asked for possession of Tequila and that Lytell's counter-suit, asking for costs of keeping the bird for the last three years, be dismissed. "Done and granted," Martz said. Lytell was devastated after the hearing. Though she said the handover of Tequila was cordial, she said she dreaded coming home without her Lucky. "This poor bird, he calls me 'Ma,' " she said. "He's very attached to me." She disputed the idea that a pet is no different from other types of property. "They treat a living, breathing animal like a car," she said. "Is that fair? Is that justice?" Colicheski walked out of the courthouse with Tequila in a small crate. Television reporters ran after her, including a crew from Inside Edition. Two television camera operators got into a brief shoving match trying to capture Tequila's reunion. Once outside, she unclasped the crate and held her bird for the first time. Colicheski baby-talked to Tequila, tears in her eyes. "Want kisses?" she cooed. The interviewers gasped as Tequila flew from her hand onto the ground, but he was quickly snatched up. Colicheski held on a little tighter, this time. Tequila just squawked and beat his wings.