Pigeons are among the most maligned urban wildlife despite the fact that human beings brought them to our shores and turned them loose in our cities -- not something that they chose. People trap them and poison them, and now the former fighter Mike Tyson is going to showcase how these complex and bright birds can be used as living "avatars," literally thrown to the winds -- including into storms that send them spiraling down to earth -- in endurance races. Tyson has expressed his excitement, not just at the fat check that he is getting from Animal Planet for his new show, Taking on Tyson, but also at the prospect of showing off his new venture -- pigeon racing, a pursuit that might win him and his friends cash prizes and purses. As for Animal Planet, it appears to be promoting gambling, which is illegal in many states.
Pigeons are gentle and smart and have complex social relationships. Their hearing and vision are both excellent. They flock in large numbers to help protect each other from predators, which they cannot do when trying to race back to their life mates and nests from a strange place hundreds of miles from home.
Instead of riding the air currents for pleasure or exploring grassy areas for morsels of food, birds used in racing are relegated to small wire-mesh worlds that may afford them little protection from the elements. It is the bird equivalent of the orca bathtub at SeaWorld. And the "losers" suffer a grim fate. At PETA, we get calls from frantic people who have found banded birds exhausted, injured, or starving; pigeons raised in coops do not know how to find food and water in the real world. Since pride and profit are often the motivating factors in pigeon racing, owners have little use for birds who can't or won't win. "Wring his neck," is what people so often hear when they report a banded pigeon. So much for love and respect, which Tyson seems to talk a lot about nowadays.
There's little doubt that Tyson's show will have a 101 Dalmatians effect. Many of the boxer's fans will casually acquire birds and just as quickly tire of the idea when their birds fail to come home in one piece or at all. Taking on Tyson will sentence countless birds to life in a cramped cage and a bad end. Pigeon racing is a lousy, greedy, and often unlawful activity. One thing that it is not is kind to birds.
Many people who race pigeons take great pride in the birds and care for them very well. Unfortunatly, like with most other issues involving animals, there will be people who do not care about the birds at all - but they arenot the majority.
Also - if people find a bird with a band the should call the number on the band before anything else. Speak to the owners - if the owners of the bird say to ring it's neck then report them! If they want the bird back - give it back!
PETA - you really are just nitpicking now - go after the bigger issues like puppy mills and factory farms and let people love and enjoy thier animals. And remember that these pigeons were meant to fly - to race - they are doing what they were bred to do.
What I think is a problem is that all kinds of people get lumped into one big group and are all labelled ad "bad people", when actually there are many more people that care for thier animals than those who don't - but everyone gets the same label.
Not to say that PETA does not do much good work - but thier leadership really has issues
Sure, the pictures show animals that must be put to sleep to end their suffering, but what about the ones that never get a chance to be adopted.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8255324/
They surpassed Vick in death totals, but because they protest circuses and rodeos, they're the good guys.
Shame on Animal Planet for producing a program celebrating animals being exploited.
People like he Queen of England and members of high society.
And the last time I checked people bet on horse racing and dog racing too and that still qualifies as gambling. And yet nobody is campaigning for the Kentucky derby to be thrown off Network television when it runs.
The hypocrisy is amusing, to say the least.
But...so what? What do those issues have to do with Mike Tyson's cruel pastime?
Visit PETA.org for information on animals used for entertainment: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/cruel-sports.aspx
BUT when Tyson's interactions with his birds are put into context (ie, having previously bitten off a chunk of man's ear on live TV and done prison time for a heinous conviction), this may be the kindest and gentlest interaction he's ever had with another living thing. Kinda sad.
birds who will be bred for the "sport" that Animal Planet plans to glamorize with their new show.
They will either die of starvation and dehydration while racing or live their lives in a box until they are dumped to fend for themselves once people lose interest in their newly discovered
hobby spawned by Animal Planet's ill conceived programming.
It is a very sad life and death for such a gentle and intelligent bird.
Shame on Animal Planet for producing another program showcasing animals being exploited.
Kudos to Ingrid Newkirk for giving them a voice and for educating us to their plight.
Yes - people who are not caring properly for the birds should not be allowed to have them - but when people do love and take good care of the birds then there should not be an issue.
The pigeons were bred for flying and racing long distances
a proud peta supporter!