Neighbourhood effort ends with animal taken to SPCA
A lone chicken that wandered into yards in the Forest Lawn area over the weekend was corralled by neighbours and a city peace officer before being taken to the local SPCA.
The bird first appeared at the front door of a Forest Lawn home on Friday evening and was guided into a fenced backyard, where residents left it food and water. When the chicken later managed to escape that enclosure it turned up next door, prompting neighbours to contact authorities to determine how to deal with an unexpected urban visitor.
“We called Fish and Wildlife,” Jones said. “But a chicken gets a peace officer.”
Residents described a collaborative effort involving the neighbour who found the chicken, her partner, and a peace officer who, according to those on scene, had grown up on a farm and was able to calm and contain the bird long enough to place it in a kennel for transport. Before it was taken away, neighbours gave it water and crackers.
What happened and what it means for residents
- Initial sighting: Friday evening at a Forest Lawn residence.
- Secondary sighting: The chicken later appeared in the adjoining neighbour’s yard.
- Outcome: The chicken was captured and transported to the local SPCA by the peace officer.
The incident raised practical questions among neighbours about which city or provincial service should be contacted for domestic fowl found loose in urban areas. In this case Fish and Wildlife was contacted but the response involved a Calgary peace officer and the Calgary Humane Society was notified for intake.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Friday evening at a Forest Lawn front door |
| Second appearance | Next-door neighbour's yard after escaping fenced area |
| Resolution | Peace officer secured bird; transported to SPCA |
Those involved said the chicken appeared healthy and well hydrated when it left the neighbourhood. Neighbours speculated that, if unclaimed, the bird could be adopted; residents familiar with local animal intake noted that small livestock and backyard fowl are sometimes surrendered or found by animal services.
While the episode drew light-hearted comments from those who helped, it also illustrates how unexpected animal encounters in residential Calgary can involve multiple agencies and community members. The Calgary Humane Society was contacted for comment about the specific case.
For Calgarians who find loose domestic animals, municipal guidance generally recommends contacting local animal control or the Calgary Humane Society for direction on next steps, rather than attempting to transport or shelter unfamiliar animals without appropriate precautions.
The neighbourhood left the matter with relief that the chicken was safely removed and some bemusement that a routine evening in Forest Lawn had included an impromptu piece of farmyard diplomacy.
