In our democracy, pigeon abuse has won.  It has triumphed over kindness and compassion.  Nobody can object to pigeon abuse, let alone try to stop it, without seriously risking their own safety.  Parks, town centres, city squares, lakesides, streets and gardens have become scenes of abuse and conflict, with pigeons fleeing from carefully aimed karate kicks from booted feet, forced to take refuge in tall trees to escape the torment. 

Whatever has happened to kindness in the U.K., once known as a Nation of Animal Lovers? 

It is time to be kind to pigeons.  This is urgent, to dispel the culture of cruelty surrounding pigeons, often encouraged amongst children and young people.

Carrier pigeons saved thousands of human lives during wartime, as messengers.  A total of 32 pigeons won the PDSA Dickin Medal, in recognition of their outstanding wartime service and sacrifice.  The first of these was Winkie, whose story is told in my previous update.  In 1942, she flew for over 100 miles to save the lives of four RAF airmen whose plane had crashed into the North Sea.

Here are a few suggestions for helping pigeons to have a better life.  Please feel free to add to these suggestions, with your own ideas.

Prince William and Kate launched The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to “drive awareness of, and action on, the extraordinary impact of the early years, changing what we think and do on early childhood, in order to transform society for generations to come.”  

The website link is: royalfoundation.com

1.  Please ask the Royal Foundation Centre to stress the importance of teaching children to be kind to all creatures, particularly pigeons.  No child should be taught to hate. What we teach children in the early years stays with them.  Teaching them kindness is vital.

2.  Ask the Prime Minister to keep his promise, made on Holocaust Memorial Day, to “fight against ALL forms of hatred and prejudice, wherever they are found” by outlawing pigeon abuse and giving pigeons specific protection under the law!  No living creature, should be abused, particularly not pigeons, our heroes of war.

https://email.number10.gov.uk

Dear Prime Minister 

Please keep your promise, made on Holocaust Memorial Day to “fight against all forms of hatred and prejudice, wherever they are found” by outlawing and stopping pigeon abuse in our parks, streets and public places, and giving pigeons specific protection under the new Animal Welfare Sentience laws and the Action Plan for Animal Welfare.  

it is unacceptable that pigeon abuse, prejudice and hatred continue to spoil our reputation as “Nation of Animal Lovers”.  This abuse of gentle, intelligent pigeons is heartbreaking to see and severely limits our freedom to enjoy parks and public places.

3. Sign and share my petition.  Let’s reach 10,000 signatures:-

http://chng.it/SZjDqPJzDx

4.  Hear the song, “Please be Nice to Pigeons”:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWbqyExGnGk

5.  How can MPs help?  By recognising pigeon abuse as a problem, which needs to be solved, and giving pigeons special protection under the government’s new Animal Welfare Sentience laws and Action Plan for Animal Welfare.  Contact your MP at:-

writetothem.com  

6.  See the petition to reduce the use of cruel bird deterrents, such as spikes and netting, on buildings:-

You can read more and sign the petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/uk-government-and-devolved-administrations-protect-birds-by-reducing-the-use-of-cruel-bird-deterrents-such-as-netting-and-bird-spikes-on-roofs-of-buildings-notobirddeterrents/psf/share?share=1

Petition Link

Thank you to everyone for all your encouragement and support.