In April 2012, PETA released footage from a 15 month investigation into cruelty and
illegal gambling in pigeon racing.
At this starting point in California, 846 pigeons were forced to attempt a 325 mile
flight back to Arizona.
Hundreds of these birds did not make it back alive.
1300 other birds who were originally registered for this race did not even survive training.
Imagine a Boston Marathon in which more than half of the competitors never return and are
presumed dead.
This is typical in pigeon racing.
Pigeons have tested higher on intelligence tests than dogs and some primates.
They use multiple senses and faculties to try to navigate their way home.
But the odds are always against them.
Lost birds are not equipped to fend for themselves in the wild, because they have been raised
in captivity.
The casualty rate from pigeon races is staggering.
But the carnage doesn’t end there.
The birds who finish out of the money and those that aren’t kept for breeding are
usually killed by the pigeon racers after
the season.
To pigeon racers, birds who don’t win money are considered a waste of time and are disposed
of like a losing lottery ticket.
Like the other blood sport, like cock fighting and dog fighting, pigeon racing is all about
gambling.
But it’s the animals that pay the ultimate price.
PETA investigators penetrated operations in which more than $200,000 is bet on a single
race.
This is merely a fraction of the estimated $15 million wagered on pigeon races every
year in America.
All the betting is illegal, and violates both federal and state laws.
Because so much money is at stake, some pigeon racers will do whatever they can get away
with to win.
And pigeon racers employ an arsenal of cruel, psychological tactics to manipulate the birds.
One example is that they separate life-long loving mates and tear parents away from babies
and eggs, in order to compel the frantic and exhausted birds to fly to their home lofts
even faster.
Please go to Peta.org to take action and stop this blood sport.
Thank you.