Bird Owner Offers $1,000 Reward To Help Located Missing Macaw

CHICAGO (CBS)-- A Chicago man is asking for the public's help to find his beloved pet.

Bufford, a Ruby Macaw, was snatched off his owner's fence last Friday. As CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports, his owner hopes a $1,000 reward will bring him home.

Last Friday, Bufford was taken from the fence where he used to hang with his Macaw buddy, Sam. The bird-napping happened while their owner was just a few feet away.

Sam now avoids the fence, a spot that used to be his favorite

"He doesn't hang out down here too much since that happened," said the birds' owner, Nick Butkovich.

Butkovich says he turned his back for a moment, and next he heard Bufford and Sam squawking.

"She grabbed them both, ran down there and got in the car," said Butkovich. "I could hear [Bufford] screaming."

Butkovich says Sam bit the woman and got away, but was run over by the black Jeep Cherokee as it sped off.

Butkovich knows Sam's physical injuries will heal, but he doesn't know if he'll get over losing his life-long pal.

Butkovich says he thinks Sam knows Bufford's gone. "He's looking for him," he said.

People living in the neighborhood are also looking for him.

"Everyone knows these birds, and it's just sad," said neighbor Marian Nixon.

Another neighbor, Julissa Gonzalez-Kotvasz, says: "I was so sad. I couldn't stop thinking about it. In fact, I was surprised at how sad I was."

Bufford's owner and his neighbors just hope someone will do the right thing and bring him back.

"Just put them on the fence," said Butkovich. "It would mean more than you understand."

Anybody with information can call Butkovich at (312) 203-3548.