Neighbors Hunt for Missing Somerville Rooster

A transient rooster who took up residency seven years ago at a Somerville, MA home, has gone missing and both owner and neighbors want the bird back. The wayward bird's disappearance now has a neighborhood on a search.

Seven years ago, a black rosecomb rooster meandered onto Janie Owen's property in Somerville, MA and took up residency, sleeping in the basement, and perching and crowing from a magnolia tree. The rooster, named Reston, was named after the town in Virginia where Owen's parents reside. According to Boston.com, Reston disappeared on May 7 and 57 year old Owen wants him back. "I miss him; we all miss him" Owen said speaking for her neighbors as well. "He's a good bird. He's a member of the family, a member of the whole neighborhood. We want him back." Owen has sought the help of local law enforcement, mail carriers, neighbors, local schools, and even the local garbologists since his disappearance. Posters can be seen throughout Somerville alerting people of the missing rooster, as well as a blurb on the city's website. While police don't make it a policy to search for missing pets, Somerville Police Sergeant Jerry Reardon sympathizes with Owens. "If someone took my rooster, I would want people looking for it," he said. Reston wasn’t always so welcomed, however. Neighbors complained about the fowl noisemaker at first, and the Somerville Animal Control Officer nearly took Reston away for posing a potential health threat before neighbors finally rallied to leave him be. But neighbors soon grew to love the Reston. "He was just like a dog. You could pet him. You could pick him up. He really loved people" said neighbor Andy Winther. Although the disappearance is troubling for the neighborhood, Owen and her neighbors have been given some hope. It seems as though a tip has been received explaining that two men who claimed to have found a rooster shortly after Reston's disappearance, were seeking a box and food several blocks away, intending to deliver the bird to an animal shelter. Owen is currently awaiting word from the local shelters.