Pet Rooster

True story, it's in todays local paper______
Chicken-kickin' man is canned
By Celinda Emison (Contact)
Thursday, September 25, 2008

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Foul play reportedly occurred this week when "Chick Corley" went missing in Abilene and was presumed dead after being attacked.

In the end, "Chick" -- a chicken -- was alive and, well, limping Thursday, and the alleged perpetrator, a Sonic Drive-In restaurant manager, has been fired.

The chicken has been an adopted pet of the employees of the local 18-wheeler dealership Corley-Wetsel Freightliner at Judge Ely Boulevard and East Highway 80. An employee witnessed an attack on the bird Monday after walking across the alley to get breakfast.

She saw the manager of the restaurant kicking the bird, Freightliner owner Vic Corley said.

Officials from Sonic's corporate headquarters in Oklahoma were not pleased about the incident, and the manager was fired Wednesday, company officials reported.

The bird wandered onto the property about three months ago and was lovingly named "Chick Corley."

E-mails were flying all over town Thursday describing the chicken-beating incident and asking people to boycott the restaurant because of the manager's alleged behavior.

The e-mails ruffled more than a few feathers, even prompting some of the customers to contact the Taylor Jones Humane Society and Rescue the Animals in Abilene to report animal cruelty.

The Corley-Wetsel employee said she asked the manager to stop the attack and informed him the bird was a pet.

She rushed back to the shop and told one of the mechanics to check out the situation. He came back saying he did not see the chicken or the manager.

"She called the manager, and he told her he was afraid he had killed the chicken ... . He told her he threw her in a nearby Dumpster," Corley said. "At that point, we think the chicken is dead, so I contacted Animal Control in Abilene."

But by Monday afternoon, the chicken reappeared, once again wandering around at Corley-Wetsel. Corley described her as a not-too-attractive chicken with brown and black feathers -- and that she was limping.

"This chicken apparently has nine lives like a cat -- she resurrected herself," Corley quipped. "She must have flown out of the Dumpster and come back."

Corley said the manager could be charged with animal cruelty and for throwing the animal in the Dumpster. Corley said the incident is under investigation by Animal Control, but officials there could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

"I have known him. He's always been professional, and we have had a great working relationship over the years," Corley said. "I was disappointed when they told me he did this."

In a news release late Thursday, Christi Woodworth of Sonic said the company does not tolerate this type of behavior at its drive-ins.

"We find this incident tragic, intolerable and inexcusable," Woodworth wrote.

Upon first notice of this incident, received on Tuesday, Sonic immediately notified the franchisee who owns and operates the drive-in and requested an immediate investigation. The franchisee took swift action and terminated the employment of the person involved, effective Wednesday, Woodworth said.

"We deeply regret that this incident occurred and feel for everyone involved," Woodworth said. "We were pleased to learn today that the chicken survived the incident with only bruised ribs."

Employees at Freightliner said they enjoy the chicken, who hangs out in the shop, watching employees work, while eating the bread and muffins the employees feed her -- and even laying eggs.

"She even laid an egg on an engine," Corley said. "I thought someone was playing a practical joke, but apparently she's laying eggs."

Corley said he could not believe how far the story had circulated by Wednesday.

"It is all over the state," he said. lol