Man beats and chokes parrot, breaking its leg. No surprise to find out that this guy's already been convicted of cruelty after slitting a dog's throat

MONTANA -- A man with a history of animal abuse made his initial court appearance Monday for allegedly punching his "talking bird" on Thanksgiving.

David Alton Boyken is charged with felony cruelty to animals for allegedly choking and deliberately breaking a mccaw's leg. According to the police report, Boyken was "highly intoxicated" upon offices' arrival.

Court documents indicate Boyken's wife witnessed part of the incident. The police report states the investigating officer found blood and feathers at the scene and observed the injured bird in its cage.

Charging documents say Boyken told the officer that the bird bit him. Those documents also say Boyken gave the officer two different stories about the bird being attacked by his daughter's small dogs.

According to police, the bird is awaiting leg surgery at a local veterinary office but should recover.

Sgt. Bryan Slavik says the bird will remain in the state's custody after the surgery as evidence in this case.

Slavik says Boyken's previous cruelty to animals conviction was for slitting a dog's throat. Under Montana law, a first offense is a misdemeanor and subsequent offenses are felonies.

Boyken posted the $5,000 bail requested by the Cascade County Attorney's Office.

(Great Falls Tribune - December 1, 2014)