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Sugar has apparently decided one mailman beatdown is no reason to cancel the rest of his day.
The beloved white peacock is recovering after an encounter with a US Postal Service worker allegedly left him injured.
The Pasadena Humane Society says the flashy bird is back on his feet, eating, drinking and carrying on like the feathered king of the neighborhood.
Sugar “continues to recover and is doing well,” they wrote online after residents flooded the shelter with messages about him.
“We know many people in the community are concerned about him, and we’re incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and well-wishes for his recovery,” the humane society said in a social media post.
The bizarre confrontation happened last week on Mohawk Street and was caught on a resident’s home security camera.
The footage appears to show a USPS worker hitting Sugar with a rock at least twice before grabbing what looks like a stick and taking swings at the bird.
Sugar appears to flee, with the worker chasing after him.
One blow appears to land on the peacock’s head.
By the end of the footage, Sugar is seen flopping on the ground.
A neighborhood Facebook post said the peacock was left so badly injured that he could not get back up.
“Some sad and angry news about our neighborhood white Peacock. Today our mailman threw a rock and hit him with a stick, causing injuries to where he couldn’t get up.”
Neighbors were not exactly cheering for the mailman.
“Not okay my kids love seeing white peacock, he’s not vicious. I’m sure he was trying to protect himself. We were never around him and never try to attack us. I noticed in the first video he attacked the peacock first.”
One Reddit user wondered why the whole thing could not have ended with a much less dramatic solution.
“If a mailbox is broken, they don’t deliver. If your dog scares them, they don’t deliver. Maybe he could have just left and noted to the post office that the delivery was obstructed by wildlife?”
Thankfully, Sugar appears to have avoided any broken bones.
A veterinarian examined him and found areas of swelling and several minor wounds, but X-rays showed nothing was broken, according to Pasadena Humane.
The bird has been mobile and responsive and is eating and drinking normally.
“Our team will continue to monitor him closely as he heals.”
Meanwhile, investigators are still trying to piece together exactly what happened.
Pasadena Humane’s animal control division is seeking additional footage, while the US Postal Service is conducting its own investigation.
And investigators know exactly who the mail carrier is.
The resident’s security camera clearly captured the encounter, making it possible for investigators to establish his identity.
Pasadena Humane says it cannot spill all the details yet because the animal control investigation remains open.
“Because this remains an open animal control investigation, we’re limited in what we can share about the circumstances surrounding his injuries,” the shelter said. “We appreciate everyone’s understanding, patience, and concern, and we’ll share additional updates when we’re able.”
Sugar’s case also comes with some serious legal baggage.
President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act into law on Nov. 25, 2019, making certain intentional acts of animal cruelty a federal offense.
The law covers conduct involving serious bodily injury to animals, subject to federal jurisdictional requirements.
Locally, wild peacocks cannot legally be fed, injured or trapped in Pasadena and Los Angeles County, with violations potentially bringing heavy fines.
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