** URGENT ** Pigeon Disaster In So. Cal!

[NumberNine]

Orally administered alcohol will kill a bird in 5-10 seconds. 20%-40% alcohol is best.

[feralpigeon]

Terry, I can't even begin to imagine....nor can I even understand how they would go about this. While the pigeons watched and waited for their time to come. This is unthinkable, totally barbaric. I'm sure there are many on the board here who would like the contact info for "Animal Control".

fp

[Lady Tarheel]

I am usually a calm person who tries to see all sides of a situation. However, if it did happen this way, I hope each and every animal control officer who participated in this mass killing has nightmares about it and also the person who turned the man in.

maggie

[upcd]

Was this done? I could have taken so many. It is not fair! Why don't pigeons get the same care as do other pets. No display time, no adoption, no chance at life. This is so WRONG!!!

[NumberNine]

This is life.

[Lin Hansen]

Terry,

I'm so sorry that this situation has had such a sad and unfair outcome.

Linda

[TAWhatley]

Hi All,

I finally did get a call back from an officer of the animal control office that handled this situation. He referred me to a Lieutenant who is a public relations officer for the county animal control. I am sure the referral is to be sure that the proper "spin" is put on things and that a "professional" is dealing with any public inquiries. I have just left him a message and hope to hear from him soon.

Some of my questions for him are:

Was there a veterinarian on site supervising and monitoring the treatment and handling of the birds?

Why were all but one bird euthanized rather than confiscated and taken to the shelter?

Where and how were the birds euthanised?

Why was no time given to Red to comply with the local laws?

Were there any banded racing pigeons in the group euthanized, and if so, are you familiar with the Carrier and Racing Pigeon Act of 1984? And, if so, why were these birds not taken to shelter and the owners located?

Was Red deficient in his care of the birds or simply in violation of the local codes and ordinances as to the number of birds?

Why was Red targeted for an inspection in the first place? (This should be interesting as Red told me that after he contacted PETA for assistance with an apartment building using sticky traps that they, PETA, turned him in.)

Why was no attempt to enlist help from local bird and animal rescue groups undertaken?

I'll keep you posted.

Terry

[AZWhitefeather]

Good points Terry.
I hope you are given the respect to at least have an opportunity to discuss this horrific incident with the proper authority.

Cindy

[upcd]

For the anwsers to all your Questions. If you would like us to help. Let us know who we need to contact. Maybe if we care enough this wouldn't happen again.

[TAWhatley]

These news stories certainly make one think that perhaps
Red was not totally without fault. Still a very, very sad
situation.

Terry

http://www.courttv.com/people/2005/1013/birds_ap.html
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/1780511.html

[re lee]

Afterreading articles on this story I am to say. The birds seemed to be sick And with as many as 150 dead birds prior to entry. THe man did not maintain a healthy are for the birds. Yes it seem he did care. But 150 allready dead birds should have been disposed of way earlyer. AND for the other birds IF they to were sick. AND deemed a health risk Then you know the rest. There seems to have been a few that may have appeared better in health taken to vets. Perhaps hope for them. He should have sought help long ago. But failed. Its sadder to me that wqith 150 dead birds in a house with live birds. They were not taken care of as they should have been. If this person wants to reahab birds he needs to keep the numbers down to what he can safely care for. I can not take any side to this out come. I would have to put the key blame on the person that created this condition.

[phyll]

Terry,
Usually, I check the forum much later. Thinking you may have posted info about making a donation, I made it a point to check it earlier.
Now I feel sick & wish I had waited until later. Those poor, poor birds ~ their lives & their deaths.
I am also thinking about Red's feelings right now. He meant well, the poor soul.
May God bless you for your willingness to assist Red with an enormous task, & for all you do every single day.
I'm so sorry about the outcome.

Phyll

[Lady Tarheel]

Yes, Terry, there is the other side and I don't like it any better than the way the animal control people carried it out. This man got in way, way over his head and, it sounds like he needs help in more ways than one. If these two stories are true, then PETA probably was right in doing something about the situation, but I wish they had been on hand to save as many as they could. Wonder how long a period of time he kept the pigeons in carriers.

The story certainly does not help the pigeon situation.

maggie

[Trees Gray]

I'm very sad about the fact that these pigeons as well as this man was living in such conditions for so long, and no one knew about it.

This was a very unhealthy living situation for all. The man probably meant well, but with that many birds things get out of control, and he needed help along time ago.

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Terry & All,

Terry I'm very sorry that this was the outcome, I personally never expected this...so very sad.

If those articles are truthful, then this person's home some like a shop of horrors to me and those birds were in horrible conditions. This "Red" Enright almost sounds like a Dr. Frankenstein and should never have been performing these barbaric procedures, nor allowing this mass accumulation of birds.

To me, this just drives home the point that some people in their overzealousness to help animals, are actually their worst enemy. You can kill a creature with "kindness" when that love is blinded, twisted and distorted. I feel more anger towards this person than the health officials for cleaning up and doing what they had to do.

I agree with Relee here, that this person was way in over their head and if this person didn't realize this, than they shouldn't be looking after animals. A person who genuinely cares for animals NEEDS to understand what is truly best for them and so many times with situations like this I have to ask..."how can they think they are doing something good"? If you love animals, then you have to be able to put their best interests ahead of your own. These "makeshift" operations he conducted on the birds sound dreadful!

I know there are 2 sides to every story but this side does shed a whole new light on this situation. What bothers me the most is that even IF this story is exaggerated and the conditions weren't as bad as the county health officials claimed, assuredly there are situations as described going on across the country. People who say they care and are "helping" animals, but in reality are killing them with "KINDNESS"!!!!!