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

[TAWhatley]

I did hear back from the animal control Lt. about 10 after 5 today. He was very professional and didn't try to sugar coat the situation or put any "spin" on things.

He advised that there was a vet on site as well as county health officials and county biologists. According to the Lt. the vet and the other health professionals involved felt that =all= the birds were malnourished and diseased to the point of no reasonable expectation of saving them. Given that animal control operations are not set up for caring for sick birds, I can see how they arrived at the euthanasia decision. If these birds were truly in that bad of shape, then there is no possible way I could have found enough people to take them all in and offer "heroic" efforts to nurse them back to health.

Indeed, all but Twister were euthanized, and Twister was spared because s/he was a much loved pet bird of Red's.

I was not able to find how out the method of euthanasia, but I am fairly certain it was an accepted humane way. There were also some pigeons sent to a local vet clinic for assessment in the hope that they could be saved. That was not the case, and those birds were euthanized at the clinic.

I'm just sick about this whole thing .. so many pigeon lives lost and also the suffering that Red has gone through and is going through. In spite of what appears to have been a horrific environment for the birds (and Red too), I know that he felt he was doing good for the birds and that he dearly loved them.

The Lt. did thank me for my offers of assistance and seemed quite sincere in his regret for how it all ended up.

Terry

[Pigeonpal2002]

Originally Posted by TAWhatley

In spite of what appears to have been a horrific environment for the birds (and Red too), I know that he felt he was doing good for the birds and that he dearly loved them.


Terry

The thing that bothers me most about this statement is that is really doesn't matter much what one "thinks" is best for the birds. The bottom line is that many times, it's not. Intentions are are often clouded by poor judgement and if someone suffers from blinded good intentions, then who suffers in the end....the animals.

Anyone can say that they have animals' interest at heart but their actions say otherwise. I have to question a persons state of mind, their rationale , values & morals.

If the basic needs aren't being provided for the birds (in this case) such as proper nutrition, suitable living conditions, not being overcrowded and proper health care then I find it hard to feel that someone believes they are doing what is best for their charges or that they in fact loved them. I can't get over the fact this man was performing these "operations" on the birds either

The whole thing makes me very sad, upset, and yes...angry.

[Lin Hansen]

Originally Posted by TAWhatley

I'm just sick about this whole thing .. so many pigeon lives lost and also the suffering that Red has gone through and is going through. In spite of what appears to have been a horrific environment for the birds (and Red too), I know that he felt he was doing good for the birds and that he dearly loved them.

Terry,

I'm so sorry for everyone involved in this sad situation...it's awful. It must have been very hard for you to have to provide the forum with "the other side of the story" seeing as how it portrayed Red in such a poor light. It's truly tragic what can occur when things are allowed to get out of hand.

Perhaps this will serve as a wake-up call to any other members at the forum that are in the midst of creating a similar tragedy. I doubt it, but there's always hope.

That old saying: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions" seems very fitting....sadly.

Linda

[feralpigeon]

Hi Terry and all,

Yes, it does appear that there are two sides to every story, and I think that
the points involved were well addressed. One other point that I'd like to mention is that caring for birds out of carriers is very different from loft care. You are individually cleaning for each bird and it is very time consuming. I can't imagine having that number of birds to take care of all by myself. I know this must be hell what Red is going through right now, and that the animal control officers had no choice according to their duties. I just wish that there had been intermediate steps taken before calling in animal control. But maybe rehabbers would have felt the same way. Not caring for the dead is almost as unthinkable as neglecting the living.

fp

[pdpbison]

Hi Terry, all..


Okay...

How sad

Phil
Las Vegas

[upcd]

God forgive us this is to terrble. Please grant these little babies into your kingdom. And please help this poor man get the help he needs.

[John_D]

Originally Posted by Lin Hansen

That old saying: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions" seems very fitting....sadly.

That about sums it up, Linda.

I think it is probably the case that anyone who has pigeons is, generally, almost automatically perceived - at least initially - as being 'right' and in need of defense against 'authority' or other apparent persecutors.

Sadly, in this case, the only truly innocent are the pigeons

John

[BrianNAmy]

I would have liked to see if Animal Control and the Vets reached the same decisions if these were cats/dogs rather than pigeons. I've seen many "bird people" who claim to love birds and work around them, biased on their views towards pigeons and it makes me wonder if the clinic/vets they used weren't some of these people as well.

I can also guarantee if these were tropical Birds of Paradise, then the situation would have been handled much differently. But as it is, they were... pigeons.

[NumberNine]

For better or for worse, we all do what we can.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by BrianNAmy

I would have liked to see if Animal Control and the Vets reached the same decisions if these were cats/dogs rather than pigeons.

I can only speak for AZ (where we both reside), & I have seen the same situation regarding dogs & cats where a home was inspected only to find deplorable conditions & sadly some of the animals had to be euthanized.

Cindy

[re lee]

I would think If I was ever to consuder rehab of pigeons ect other birds. I would setup a outside area That offered a isolation area. And recoverd conditioning loft. And then a long term plan on either release or adopt program. To rehab large numbers of bird in in home care Would be a major mistake. Birds that are crippled through injury or sickness Are not releaseable. And finding a pwerson that will adopt this bird is no easy task. sure a small number can be kept by the rehab person. But as time goes by more birds come in. A person has to consider treat and release type birds first. Will you be able to treat the injured bird where it can be released back to nature. Which is the first for most required deed. If not do you have an oultlet to send it on to a person that will care for it after its recoverd but can not be set loose . If a person ways the options Then they see if the bird is in a postion for treatment and care. That is the sad truth . Sure many birds can be saved. BUT they require care for the rest of there life. As they can no longer depend on there gift of freedom to care for there self. So they need a place that can safely provide that care. This case here was out of hand . Any case Of rehab recovery has to have a limit on quality care.Or more harm then good comes from it.. Sure I know people that daily care for 3oo to 500 pigeons a day. BUT they are set up for it. And they also have to spend more time then most with the birds. I myself would never consisder that task. But some will and do a good job on there care. But with large numbers it turns amost into a job rather then pleasure. And I think this incident has showed that a person overwhelmed there self And perhaps Meant well but need perhaps a little help there self could not provide the care they first set out to offer. Keeping many rehab birds. By not releasing or making a healthy choice for them Made this person doom The efferts And I know there are others out there that mean well and can not provide the right methods. And we will here about them too one day. It is so easy to get in over our heads sometimes and not know we are. I think this person did not see that.

[minimonkey]

Wow, this whole thing is so tragic.

I, too, have heard of situations involving dogs or cats or other animals in similar conditions that ended up having to be euthanized. Certainly the prejudice against pigeons exists, but the situation sounds really dire overall, and I suspect the outcome would have been the same regardless of the species or breed of animal involved.

Assuming the news stories are true and accurate.....The accumulation of that many birds, without the proper space and means to care for them, is a type of pathological "hoarding." It is a known psychological condition, and likely was beyond Red's control. That certainly doesn't make it any less horrible, but perhaps it sheds a slightly kinder light on the situation -- we are talking about someone with a serious problem of his own, for which I hope he gets help. It's a difficult condition to treat.

And, yes -- I hope this serves as a cautionary tale to anyone who is in danger of creating something similar. Without mentioning any names, I do recall some posts from someone a while back who seemed to be on the road to a similar disaster. I've always wondered how that situation turned out.

[cats6birds4]

Oh, what a tragedy. I'm so sorry for all involved. Thank you Terry for working so hard to try and get help for the pigeons, and for getting the whole story. It is heartbreaking. I know we were all praying for a different outcome, but it sounds like there was no way to avoid it. Well, it sounds like the pigeons were enduring alot of suffering, and now it is over. Poor sweet little pigeons. It's too bad no one was able to notice the situation and get him some help before it got so out of hand. I just hope that people can see this story as a tragedy for all involved, and not just view it as another reason to dislike pigeons.

Beth

[TAWhatley]

Hi All,

Have moved the topic from General to News and will be posting some new stories courtesy of Pigeon who is having difficulty logging on to Pigeon-Talk at the current time.

Tery

[TAWhatley]

http://tinyurl.com/acp4b

Pigeon man returns to find only one of his pets left
Torrance man returned Friday from a forced psychological evaluation
after officials euthanized some of the 340 pigeons found at his home.
By Larry Altman
DAILY BREEZE

Gerard "Red" Enright Jr. nestled Twister against his beard Friday,
moments after Torrance officials returned his trusted pigeon to him.

"Gimme a kiss, gimme a kiss," he said, smooching the bird whose neck
bends over backward.

The Torrance man had begged animal control officials to spare the
pigeon, his personal pet among some 340 pigeons -- dead and alive --
kept at his home.

Enright, 61, again denied Friday that he meant to hurt any of the
birds removed from his Via Los Altos house Wednesday. Officials
found 220 birds in pet carriers encrusted with bird droppings and
put 219 of them to sleep because of malnutrition and illness.

About 120 dead pigeons were found in bags and boxes outside the
house, and Enright said more were kept in refrigerators inside,
including one next to his bed.

Torrance officials spared Twister after Enright pleaded with them
when he bailed out of jail. (He was handcuffed and taken for a
psychological evaluation afterward at County Harbor-UCLA Medical
Center, and was released a few hours later.)

The bird was kept in quarantine until Friday, when officials
released it to Enright.

"Oh God, she's the only one left," Enright said while trying to coax
the 4-year-old pigeon from a plastic pet carrier.

Animal control officials, police and supporters looked on as he
cupped the animal in his hands and cried.

"They executed them all," he said. "Oh God, they executed them all."

Relieved the bird had not been killed with the others, Enright knelt
on the ground outside the police station. He kissed and nuzzled the
bird in his beard.

"She's alive," he said to the crowd. "She's alive."

Enright said he had yet to comprehend his loss. For 15 years, he
said, he devoted himself to rescuing pigeons from man's ills,
including poison and mistreatment. He admitted to operating on some
birds, a key reason why animal control officials became concerned at
the goings-on in his house.

Only licensed veterinarians can legally do surgery.

People regularly brought birds to him once he gained a reputation as
the "pigeon man." An Easy Reader article two years ago declared the
attorney a Renaissance man, and soon led residents from as far away
as Hollywood to deliver injured birds to him.

But animal control officers and police said the birds were in
terrible shape when they served a search warrant Wednesday.
Enright's house was deemed so unfit to enter that county health
officials closed it down.

Charges are pending, including possible felony counts for the
surgery.

Enright said Friday the authorities have it all wrong. Over the
years, he had treated some 1,000 birds, most brought to him when
veterinarians showed no interest.

"A lot more lived than died," he said. "These little guys I've
gotten to know as little beings. Each one has got a personality
that's unique."

On Friday, it was difficult for Enright to understand why officials
put them to sleep. He said they weren't sick and malnourished
because of anything he did. They were ill when they arrived, and he
was trying to nurse them back to health.

They should not have been killed, he said.

"If I actually comprehended what they did, I wouldn't have been able
to stand here right now," he said.

The dead pigeons that authorities found, he said, were ready for
burial or to be sent for testing to see how they died. He just had
not taken care of the disposals because he was so busy with the live
ones.

Enright said he did find some humor in his plight. His mother, Susie
Ann Enright, was instrumental in 1964 in persuading the Torrance
City Council to pass an ordinance outlawing anyone from keeping more
than four pigeons at home.

Enright's mother wanted the law enacted because nearby coops created
dust in the neighborhood. Now her son is a prime violator of the
law. (Torrance law today says residents can keep only four pets of
any kind without a special permit.)

Enright said he will stay with friends, unsure what to do with his
house. He coughed numerous times during an interview, acknowledging
that it was a symptom of the dust in his home.

He said he didn't know whether he will rescue pigeons again. For the
moment, he can't.

"I love these birds a lot more than many people love their
children," he said.