Pigeon People next New York City meeting

PIGEON PEOPLE

Our second New York City meeting is on Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Bagel Express, 1804 2nd Ave. (93-94 St.), Manhattan.

The core of our work is getting our pidgies taken care of and helping each other.

There is no way for pigeon feeders, rescuers, and owners of pet pigeons to meet in person as well as through the web. We have to learn from and teach each other, take care of our pigeons with pooled resources and knowledge, and support each other. That’s why we have started these meetings, mirroring what’s been done for years on Pigeons.com.

We have certain other goals.

There is no organized vehicle to show people how harmless and loving pigeons really are. Pigeon People will start to educate and will be working on it right away. Pigeons.com never stops such teaching, but, with its focus on other things, there should be a complementary group and website.

At the same time, NY Pigeon People will be working closely with Anna Kugelmas in her effort to stop government harassment of pigeon feeders. The two groups are sharing the meetings. Her group focusses on stopping persecution and on support.

New York City has been giving summonses to people for feeding animals, and it may be that the only law they can use is the one against littering. We’re planning a campaign to publicize the cruelty and craziness of singling out the feeding of pigeons, sparrows, and squirrels as if it’s actually worth focussing on. There is a third group we’ll work with in coalition. They are considering a civil suit to stop the harassment and are doing legal research.

Anna, the leader of our partner group, was arrested after two park volunteers harassed her. Her trial will be an opportunity to publicize pigeons and pigeon feeding as harmless. She responded to her trouble by becoming a leader, helping people who have also gotten in trouble. On the other hand, my idea for a support group arose from participation in Pigeons.com and FPRC, so i’ll focus more on getting those birds taken care of and on we humans helping each other with the vicissitudes of taking care of our pidgies.

There are many, many pigeons and other wildlife that need a rehabilitation shelter, but there are none in this area that take enough pigeons. As a long-term goal, we’ll try to start one. Fundraising will be the first stage.

Beginning a new website that’s mainly for teaching about pigeons is another future goal. When people happen to find Pigeons, they must go away loving and understanding pigeons better, don’t you think? But we want all the stories, videos, humor, fact or fiction, science - anything - that will convince people pigeons are great critters and are people - available in one place.

The site will be a center for the work we’ll take on, and members will be able to catch up on current activity and add info.

Cynthia was the person who first suggested that i try to start a NYC shelter, and she’s kept discussing it for many months. She’s been the only person who kept me from quitting and was far more helpful than anyone else. She should be a local member. Thanks!

Pigeons.com was recommended to members at the first meeting as a good resource. I hope that the web groups and any meeting in person will keep working together.

Anna’s group and mine may find it’s better to merge at some time.

You can show up at our meetings, e-mail me at Al_Streit@Yahoo.com to be kept up to date, or just watch here for more posts.

Please let us know your ideas in this string including your reactions to what i’ve said here. If you have friends who don’t have a computer but would like to take part, send me their phone number and address, and i’ll get information to them regularly.

We would like members to be tolerant of ideas, viewpoints, and politics different from their own. We have to work together - there are few pigeon people in the world. Also, people with diverse skills are what we need, as Gretchen has said.

[This message has been edited by AlStreit (edited October 28, 2003).]

[cyro51]

Bumping up!

The meeting is Monday, and i hope people who are in the New York City area can make it.

If not, write to me at Al_Streit@Yahoo.com or watch this forum on Pigeons.com for news.

Anna Kugelmas has named her new group Manhattan to the Aid of Animals.

The day after the Pigeon People meeting, there will be one that includes the new heads of the city animal control shelter and the ASPCA and of a newly formed Mayor's task force.

This may be a chance to reach those people with the issues of poisoning and cruelty toward pigeons (but no legal protection), harassment and ticketting of pigeon feeders, and the city shelter giving no care to pigeons but instead killing them.

Let's show them that consideration of the welfare of pigeons isn't off-topic.

This is from a flyer about the November 4th meeting:

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2003, 6:30-8:30 pm
House of the Association, 42 West 44th Street

The Future of NYC's Cats and Dogs

Big changes seem to be on the way for the homeless dogs and cats of New York City, as new leadership arrives at the City's most prominent animal facilities. New York City Animal Care and Control (formerly the Center for Animal Care and Control) handles animal control for the entire City. The ASPCA is the City's leading charitable organization devoted to animals. The newly formed Mayor's Alliance for New York City's Animals, Inc. is helping the City help the many New Yorkers working on their own or through small not-for-profit organizations to end the killing of adoptable dogs and cats. Join us for a discussion with leaders of these organizations as they tell you what their plans are, what challenges they face, and how the rest of us can participate in making New York City the best place in the country for dogs and cats.

[Osama_bin_lid]

if new york is seriously trying to punish the feeding of our (rock) doves, then it has to ask itself why the head-the-balls want to attack it...

wise up new york administrators, you couldnt run a 100m sprint let alone a great city...