Greensburg Man Charged After Admitting He Gave Parakeet Marijuana, Beer; Bird Hospitalized

Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli’s office says Timothy Grace, 40, of Greensburg admitted that the parakeet he was carrying had been given marijuana and beer daily, and the bird was taken to a veterinary hospital in Monroeville for emergency care. The bird, later identified by veterinary staff as Blue Skies, arrived underweight, weak and dehydrated and received a splint and three antibiotics.

Police were dispatched the night of Feb. 21 after a bartender at Callaghan’s Bar on South Main Street called 911 to report an intoxicated man with an injured bird. Dispatcher audio released to media records the caller saying, “The caller is the bartender. She says that there is a white male at the bar with a parakeet. The bird has a broken foot, and he's telling everybody at the bar that he feeds it marijuana and makes it drink beer. Currently, the bird is in his pocket. She’s concerned for its welfare.”

Officers met Grace at the scene; investigators described a sequence in which another person was briefly holding the bird when officers arrived, but Grace told police the parakeet belonged to him. Investigators reported that Grace admitted the bird “smoked marijuana and drank beer daily,” and officers arrested him that night on a public-intoxication charge listed in the affidavit of probable cause.

Detective Sergeant Justin Scalzo of the City of Greensburg Police characterized the case as unusual, saying, “It's definitely an odd one.” Scalzo added that Grace had been “bragging to other people inside the bar that he feeds the parakeet marijuana and has it drink beer on a daily basis,” language investigators used when describing witnesses at the scene.

Lt. Rob Jones of the Greensburg police, who volunteers with local animal shelters, transported Blue Skies to the AVET Center in Monroeville where staff evaluated and treated the bird. Veterinary staff observed that the bird’s leg appeared broken and that its foot was “facing the wrong direction,” placed a splint and began antibiotic therapy. AVET Center provided a statement saying the bird was brought in quickly and treatment began right away; no source has published a final prognosis or long-term outcome for Blue Skies.

Prosecutors have charged Grace with multiple counts including aggravated cruelty to animals, animal cruelty, neglect of animals and transporting animals in a cruel manner, in addition to the public-intoxication arrest that night. The Westmoreland County District Attorney’s office shared the details with media; charging documents, court dates and any veterinary toxicology results confirming exposure to marijuana or alcohol have not been released.

With Blue Skies under veterinary care at AVET Center and criminal charges filed, prosecutors and police are the primary sources for updates on court scheduling and any formal filings. The case has left open both the bird’s long-term medical outcome and whether toxicology will confirm the substance exposure Grace described.