Lots of pigeons and doves in need of homes!

[Elizabethy]

Hello-

There are lots and lots of pigeons and doves in shelters all around Northern California and MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue is so full that we're turning birds away.

Please- if you've got room for a pair of rescued pigeons (mostly kings) or doves, contact me at AdoptKings@gmail.com

Or if you're going to be breeding pet pigeons and doves, think about saving a life (or two or six) that are already here and replace the real eggs with fake and adopt a homeless bird.

MickaCoo has more than 20 doves available for adoption and almost 30 pigeons. Plus there are all the birds at the shelters... HELP!

[MaryOfExeter]

We're in the process of making a nice dovecote out of a gazebo Once it's done and my current doves are in, I'll be able to adopt some more, if shipping is available for them.

[MaryOfExeter]

Also, I passed the message along to the BYC forum (which has an insane amount of members) and the NC Poultry yahoogroup in case anyone can or knows of someone who can help

[LokotaLoft]

with the economy failing all over the place its only going to get harder placing any animals that are in need and I just am wondering what happens to all the ones that get turned away

[TAWhatley]

Elizabeth .. somehow all us bird rescue folks are going to have to fiind a way to get the shelters to ship to approved homes or release the birds to approved rescues that will ship to approved homes .. I don't see any other way for this ending well for the birds. We all have super technology at our hands .. let's start using it to get things done.

Terry

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by LokotaLoft

with the economy failing all over the place its only going to get harder placing any animals that are in need and I just am wondering what happens to all the ones that get turned away

Lokota .. you already know the answer .. they end up dead.

In a few cases, I think finders/rescuers do decide to just keep their birds, but FOR SURE birds and animals turned in to shelters are being euthanized because there are no homes or rescuers for them.

I am so proud of our members here who have done so much for so many over the years. Still .. there are all of those birds and animals out there still needing help. We've got to keep on doing what we do.

Terry

[Elizabethy]

Originally Posted by TAWhatley

Elizabeth .. somehow all us bird rescue folks are going to have to fiind a way to get the shelters to ship to approved homes or release the birds to approved rescues that will ship to approved homes .. I don't see any other way for this ending well for the birds. We all have super technology at our hands .. let's start using it to get things done.

Terry

Hi-

I can't speak for other shelters but those that I work with are eager to release birds to MickaCoo for shipping but there are not enough adopters.

I've been REALLY fortunate to be able to develop a sort of system- birds that are just in off the street are frequently too young or ill or rundown to safely ship and so those go to fosters and when they're ready, if not yet adopted, they go to the big barn stall at Marin Humane Society where they can socialize as a flock, get fresh air and sunshine and get fit and strong and having a great quality of life while waiting for a forever home. It's working beautifully as long as there are adopters but when there aren't- the system gets full and birds get stuck.

If you want to adopt a beautiful king pigeon or two, please contact me at AdoptKings@gmail.com

[Donna Miller]

I didnt think they shipped out of state - I saw some great birds that I would love to adopt but I live in OHIO -

[Elizabethy]

Originally Posted by Donna Miller

I didnt think they shipped out of state - I saw some great birds that I would love to adopt but I live in OHIO -

Hi, Donna-

We've shipped birds to Ohio, Wisconsin, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana...

[feathers111]

Originally Posted by TAWhatley

Lokota .. you already know the answer .. they end up dead.

In a few cases, I think finders/rescuers do decide to just keep their birds, but FOR SURE birds and animals turned in to shelters are being euthanized because there are no homes or rescuers for them.

I am so proud of our members here who have done so much for so many over the years. Still .. there are all of those birds and animals out there still needing help. We've got to keep on doing what we do.

Terry

Indeed, the vast majority of shelter animals, including pigeons, are euthanized, but there are also no-kill shelters and sanctuaries. (A caveat: "no-kill" is something of a misnomer, and there is no one definition of "no-kill," although it usually means that a shelter will not euthanize an animal that is adoptable; the key word here is "adoptable," and the definition varies from shelter to shelter, city to city, state to state, etc.) Although the no-kill movement is relatively new, it's gaining more attention and advocacy thanks in part to individuals and groups that help spread the word about the no-kill philosophy.
In my own experience, pigeons and other so-called exotics are often viewed by shelters as less adoptable than, say, a dog or a cat. And many shelters aren't equipped to handle exotics. And so I'm guessing that the kill rate for pigeons is much higher at most shelters than, say, the kill rate for dogs and cats. I've also found that a lot of people don't realize that they can find adoptable animals besides dogs and cats at most shelters.
I think it's important to continue to educate people about adopting versus buying and breeding. As long as people continue to buy and breed animals, there will always be unwanted animals that end up dying in shelters. Per the HSUS, approximately 4 million shelter animals are killed each year in the US alone. And that's why Elizabeth's work is so valuable, especially considering how few pigeon rescuers there are compared to dog and cat rescuers.
Before taking a pigeon (or any animal) to a shelter, I think it's a good idea to research the shelter to find out about their policies. People can also research the no-kill movement online, and there are online lists of no-kill shelters and sanctuaries.

[kippermom]

Seems to me like there are a WHOLE lot more pigeons and doves being turned in/trapped in San Francisco than elsewhere. I stalk the local shelters in my neck of the woods (Ventura and LA County) and they do not get nearly as many turned in.

Isn't there any way to stem the tide at the source???

(1) If animal reg would go to the meatmarkets and enforce safety standards so that squab are not just released or allowed to escape, and (2) If religious ceremonies could be modifed so the baby Kings are not "freed" just so they can waddle into the alleys or the bushes....to be killed or trapped. (Why not use homers like you would for a wedding release????...)

Until those two things happen, Elizabeth's efforts will never be able to satisfy the need.

I do not recommend that rescue efforts stop...I have over a dozen of Elizabeth's pijis and doves in my aviaries right now. But you would think the shelter would see the problem and step in....like requiring dog owners to spay or neuter....you have to get in front of the problem, not just react to it.

Thoughts???

[Elizabethy]

Diane is right of course.

I've often wondered why SF (and the Bay Area) has such a disproportionate number of king pigeons showing up in animal shelters.

King pigeons are bred for meat and sold at live food markets and farmers' markets and flea markets and are served as squab not only in Chinese cuisine but in Italian, French, Spanish...

The SF Animal Care & Control shelter gets a couple in every week.

I Would LOVE your thoughts, help, support on anything that can be done to reduce the number of baby king pigeons stumbling around SF- lost and hungry.

In fact, if we could stop the flow of stray king pigeons into shelters, MickaCoo could likely keep up with the rescue needs of the other domestic pigeons and doves.

Is there anyone who would be willing to take this issue on? I have contacts and resources I could share but can't lead this effort.

[idoveyou]

is this a problem primarily on the west coast? I havent seen too many pigeons of any kind i the shelters here?

[Birdmom4ever]

I think the reason there are so many king pigeons here in the Bay Area is that we have a huge immigrant population and squab is on the menu in some of those cultures. It's awfully hard to stem the tide of animals being raised for food.

The other issue with pigeons and doves is that it's harder not to raise them than to raise them. They are prolific and easy to breed so they keep coming. I've had quite a few oops babies myself even though I try to be vigilant.

I've met fanciers who simply don't practice any type of birth control with their birds--they just let them raise whatever they'll raise and sell or give away the extra birds.

It's the nature of the pigeon hobby that you raise more. Showing, racing, it's all about raising new birds year after year. It's not a mindset that will be easily changed because those of us who consider them pets are a small minority. And to be honest, if it weren't for the racing and showing hobbies we wouldn't have all the excellent medications and supplies for our pigeons that we do.

-Cathy

[sky tx]

Call PETA-Give them the EXTRA birds-they have an answer for all your problems.