This story begins with personal history—I, like many others who will read this, have rehabilitated many pigeons and doves that were, incredibly inhumanely, released into the wild as part of a ceremony or celebration. These innocent birds, due to their lifetimes spent in captivity, have no survival skills. This, in the wild, puts them at devastating disadvantage.

The conditions in which these birds are kept prior to their release are appalling. They are often crammed into overcrowded spaces, surrounded by disease and filth with the total absence of sanitation or veterinary care. Once released, they are left abandoned without any support, which leads to unimaginable suffering and eventual death.

According to Humane Society International, each year millions of captive-bred birds are released globally in ceremonies, only to die of starvation, stress, exposure, or predation. All these tragedies happen because these birds lack the survival skills that their wild counterparts have.

It's time to stop this needless cruelty. It’s time to recognize that our actions have consequences on innocent animal lives. We need to ensure that even when we celebrate and remember, we do so with compassion and respect for all creatures involved. Sign this petition and help to put an end to the inhumane treatment and release of captive pigeons and doves at our ceremonies and celebrations. Together, we can make a change.