(I was reminded of this one by the replaced-dead-rabbit joke)

A carpet installer decides to take a cigarette break after completing
the installation in the first of several rooms he has to do. Finding
them missing from his pocket he begins searching, only to notice a small
lump in his recently completed carpet-installation. Not wanting to rip
up all that work for a lousy pack of cigarettes he simply walks over and
pounds the lump flat. He decides to forgo the break continues on to the
other rooms to be carpeted.

At the end of the day hes completed his work and loading his tools into
his trucks when two events occur almost simultaneously: he spies his
pack of cigarettes on the dashboard of the truck, and the lady of the
house calls out Have you seen my parakeet?

[Ed: While this is a joke and not a legend, it is also reported in the
Choking Doberman, a book of Urban Legends. ]