Police in Arizona have been forced to warn people against buying owls while on drugs after finding a driver with one of the birds in his front seat.
I'm sure there are some Harry Potter fans out there who have fantasised about owning their very own Hedwig at one point or another, or who have just felt the birds would make an impressive pet.
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However, the decision to try and get your hands on an owl is not one that should be made while intoxicated. In fact, the decision to spend money on anything is not one that should be made while intoxicated.
Payson Police Department had to remind people of this earlier this week after coming across a bizarre sight during a traffic stop in the early hours of 9 November, when they came face to face with a driver who they indicated had been using methamphetamine.
In a post on Facebook, the department explained: "Early this morning officers conducted a traffic stop and, upon approaching the vehicle, discovered a young owl next to the driver.
"The investigation revealed the owl had just been purchased by the driver at a local gas station. The driver purchased the owl from a motorist who had found it along the roadway."
Payson Police Department pointed out that it is illegal in Arizona to 'possess, transport, buy, or sell wildlife unless expressly permitted by Arizona Revised Statutes', and stressed that 'wildlife should remain wild'.
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The use of drugs appeared to play some part in the purchase, so the officers decided to use the story as a cautionary tale to other members of the public.
The post continued: "The Payson Police Department would also like to take this opportunity to encourage the public not to use methamphetamine or you too may find yourself illegally purchasing a wild owl, for $100 dollars, in the middle of the night, from strangers, at a local gas station."
Following the traffic stop, police arrested the driver on a number of charges including 'Aggravated DUI, Possession of Methamphetamine, and the Possession/Transport/Purchase of wildlife.'
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Sadly the owl appeared to have minor injuries, meaning the police officers on the scene weren't able to immediately release it.
The department explained that Arizona Game and Fish would be coming to collect the owl after it was taken from the driver.
As well as a lot of comments praising the police for their work, the post received a response from the US Fish and Wildlife Service which said it 'support[ed] this message'.
"Keep wildlife wild," the department added.
Topics: Drugs, Animals, US News, Crime