Parrots Save Man's Life

A homeowner shot to death an intruder Tuesday after his parrot alerted him that someone was on the property, police said.

Dennis Baker, who keeps several pet birds, said his Mexican Redheaded parrot named Salvador says "hello" when he sees someone. As someone passed by a window at his home, Salvador began saying "Hello, hello," awaking Baker from a sound sleep.

Baker approached John Woodson, 46, in a detached garage, and shot him. Woodson was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died, Dallas police Sgt. Larry Lewis said.

Lewis said the home, also used as a locksmith shop, had been burglarized four times this month.

"They were coming here like they owned the place. I hate what happened, but somebody has to do what's necessary," Baker said in the online edition of The Dallas Morning News. "The fifth time is enough. It's not something you want to do, but you have to do."

Police said they would turn the case over to a grand jury.

On Sunday, a welding-shop owner fatally shot one intruder and wounded another in the second such fatal shooting at the business in three weeks. No charges were expected in those cases.

A bill passed earlier this year by state lawmakers this year gives Texans a stronger legal right to defend themselves with deadly force in their homes, vehicles, and workplaces. The so-called "castle doctrine" states that a person has no duty to retreat from an intruder before using deadly force.