Canada: Simon Pérusse fighting to keep pet crow 'Moko'

CANADA -- A man from Quebec City fighting to keep his pet crow has been slapped with a $500 fine for having an unauthorized pet.

Simon Pérusse will have to argue in front of a court to keep his crow, "Moko."

He's been taking care of the crow since finding the bird with a broken wing six years ago.

But when he moved into an apartment building, the landlord filed a complaint because crows are not on the list of approved domestic animals.

The building's owner lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife. Pérusse has tried lobbying for a special permit to keep Moko, but has so far been refused

Pérusse works as a guide at the traditional Huron Wendat site near Quebec City and says Moko goes everywhere with him, even, until recently, work.

"Moko is more than a pet. He has become a working tool," said Pérusse.

He says the bird enjoys human contact and he is sad that he won't be able to take Moko out and to work for the time being.  Pérusse says Moko cannot fly more than a few feet and would not survive in the wild.

An online petition has surfaced which advocates letting Pérusse keep his crow. As of Monday evening, it had nearly 1,000 signatures.

(CBC News - June 23, 2015)