Poor No Neck!

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Oct 22, 2004 8:51PM

Chicagoist has learned that the ostrich that was on the loose for the past week in the south suburbs is actually a South American rhea and that it's name was No Neck. We say was because yesterday the bird was captured but then it died.

Jackie Juby was No Neck's owner. She and her husband have raised South American rheas as pets for about 10 years. Last Friday No Neck was frightened by dogs and got out of the Jubys backyard coop. Since then No Neck has been running around the suburbs, about 25 miles south of Chicago.

Poor No Neck. It's sad that the bird died but at least he had 5 days of freedom before it happened. We're imagining No Neck having fun ducking in and out of people's yards and frightening them and hoping that he didn't spend his last days running around frightened himself.