A North Vancouver woman is speaking out after video showed two masked intruders taking a pet chicken named Snowflake from her backyard.
Lindi Smith has owned backyard chickens ever since they were legalized in the City of North Vancouver more than a decade ago.
Security camera footage provided to Global News appears to show two shirtless, masked males breaking into Smith’s backyard chicken coop and taking Snowflake at around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday.
“They grabbed her by her legs, and she was flapping and squawking. She’s never been handled like that in her life,” said Smith in an interview with Global News.
“I hope and pray that she’s still alive and that it wasn’t something disgusting, where they wanted to see what would happen giving it to a dog or torturing her in some way.”
She said she suspects Snowflake was stolen as part of a high school graduation prank.
Smith is now keeping the rest of her chickens indoors in her living room for the time being.
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She said she suspects whoever took Snowflake is a member of the local community.
“If you didn’t live locally, you wouldn’t know they existed,” she says about her chicken coop.
Smith is urging whoever took Snowflake to return her, or for someone who knows the two alleged thieves to urge them to bring her back.
“Somebody knows something, and I hope that they can overcome the stigma of being the one that tells because Snowflake’s life is worth more than that.”
Const. Mansoor Sahak with North Vancouver RCMP said Snowflake’s owners are devastated.
“This case parallels the theft of a beloved family dog, emphasizing the profound impact on the owners and the urgent need for resolution,” he said.
“Our hope is that someone out there knows the suspects or the whereabouts of Snowflake and will do the right thing and call police.”
Anyone with information about this incident, or who recognizes the suspects, is asked to call North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 and quote file #24-9290.
Anyone who wishes to provide information but who wants to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).