We are writing to express our profound disappointment and concern following the recent confirmation from the Met Police Wildlife Crime Unit that a pigeon trapped for over two weeks inside the Morrisons Harrow store at Trident Point was exterminated by pest control on the Morrison's staff's instruction. 

This tragic outcome has caused deep emotional distress to the many members of the community who had repeatedly offered help and advocated for a humane rescue of the vulnerable and helpless pigeon. The local rescuers and welfare groups, as well as the fire brigade offered to assist, and a petition calling for compassionate intervention gathered significant public support. Instead, it appears these efforts were dismissed, and transparency declined as the store management allegedly removed food and water left for the trapped and distressed pigeon, banned photography, and asked the concerned individuals to leave. 

This is not just about the one pigeon. It raises serious ethical questions about Morrisons' internal procedures and attitudes towards the wildlife. Many of us believe that preventing unnecessary suffering is a basic moral responsibility, particularly in the heart of our communities. 

With this in mind, we are calling on Morrisons to urgently review and reform its internal protocols regarding trapped wildlife and other species. Specifically, we urge to:

1. Establish clear, humane policies for dealing with animals and birds trapped in-store, prioritising rescue and rehabilitation over extermination.
2. Work with qualified wildlife organisations to ensure future incidents are handled with compassion and professionalism. 
3. Train staff in ethical response procedures and improve communication with the public when such incidents occur.

The handling of this particular incident has caused distress not only because of the unnecessary death of a defenseless wildlife species but because it reflects a disregard for public concern and community values. It is not too late to make this right by ensuring that future situations are met with empathy, openness, and responsible, compassionate and humane action.

We are seeking support from the community on national level to collectively appeal and urge Morrisons to revisit their policies and make a commitment to make amendments so that incidents of these cease. 

https://harrowonline.org/2025/06/11/pigeon-reportedly-trapped-inside-morrisons-harrow-for-over-two-weeks/