Gaylord was an ostrich who metaphorically kicked sand in the face of two young, drunken intruders.

He lived on an ostrich ranch in San Francisco and, alarmed by the intrusion of Timothy McKevitt, 19, and Jonathon Porter, 21, he kicked out at them, causing more bruising to the men's pride than to their bodies. The situation was not helped when the drunken pair's girlfriends saw the funny side of things and laughed. Well, who wouldn't?

The two men returned with a rifle and shotgun and fired at least seven shots at Gaylord, according to a police report. Porter was sentenced to seven months in jail, McKevitt is yet to be sentenced.

Male pride eh? This pair need more than their heads buried in the sand.

Reuters