Photo: Stefania Pelfini, La Waziya Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Fort Lauderdale, FL - A well-known rooster named Roger, considered a local fixture in Fort Lauderdale’s Riverside Park neighborhood, is recovering after a brutal attack that shocked the community and prompted a police investigation into aggravated animal cruelty.
Roger had lived in the area for two years after showing up on the doorstep of local business owner Jamie Carr, who took him in as a pet.
Carr said Roger became known for his daily crows and playful nature, often perching on the fence at noon like clockwork.
On April 15, Roger reportedly hopped his usual fence near Southwest 12th Avenue and 6th Street when he encountered a man who allegedly responded with violence.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows the man attempting to trap Roger in a bag, then later retrieving an umbrella from his vehicle and striking the bird multiple times.
Carr, disturbed by what he saw in the footage, said the man could have simply walked away.
Instead, Roger was left with a broken wing and leg, injuries that required surgery.
After the attack, Roger was found cowering beneath a woodpile, visibly traumatized.
Now three weeks into recovery, Carr says Roger will not return to the neighborhood due to safety concerns and is searching for a farm where the rooster can live peacefully.
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department has confirmed the case is under active investigation as a possible felony.
Neighbors have expressed outrage, calling for justice and vowing support for Roger’s recovery.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police.