Vet admits to parrot death

HOWELL, N.J. Mahmoud Hussein admitted in Municipal Court on Wednesday that he failed to provide adequate food and shelter to Tickles. The Conure parrot was kept in an unheated entryway of his veterinary office in Howell Township.

The bird was found dead one day in October when temperatures dipped into the 40s.

Monmouth County SPCA chief Victor "Buddy" Amato says parrots are tropical animals that can't handle that kind of cold.

An employee at the office says neither Hussein nor a second doctor also charged in the case wished to comment.