Two dozen pigeons were rescued by volunteers from the animal rights group, SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness) after a live pigeon shoot at the Alabama Forestry Association in Mobile, AL on Thursday, March 1st.
The live shoot was videotaped by SHARK investigators. The injured birds would’ve died without the aid of the volunteers.
SHARK attempted to save as many pigeons as they were able before darkness fell over the area. “It was heartbreaking to leave knowing so many more were out there suffering,” states Steve Hindi, SHARK President. “The wounded are left to die slow, painful deaths from their wounds, predation or starvation.”
courtesy of Broxton Bridge Plantation
Tower used for live pigeon shoots
Alabama’s shoot comes on the heels of another live pigeon shoot held in Ehrhardt, South Carolina on Saturday, February 10th at Broxton Bridge Plantation. Video captured by SHARK investigators showed young women and men torturing the birds before being dumped into a garbage can where they were left to die.
courtesy of Broxton Bridge Plantation
Shooting at live birds
Live pigeon shoots are illegal according to Title 47, South Carolina’s animal cruelty statute.
Earlier this year further proof that live pigeon shoots are more pervasive than we thought was the reality of yet another live pigeon shoot that took place on Saturday, January 13th, at Schrader’s Outdoors in Henderson, Maryland. Pigeons were loaded into traps and shot in a similar style that is utilized at Pennsylvania live pigeon shoots.
A SHARK investigator was shocked by the actions of a clubhouse worker as he was leaving. While filming pigeons who survived the shoot, the worker told the investigator he was going to shoot those birds. Despite the investigator offering to help move the pigeons away, the worker not only ignored the pleas but shot two birds a total of three times.
Pennsylvania has been the only state in the nation where shooting pigeons for “sport” is legal. Advocates have been fighting for decades to make them illegal but to no avail. It is a common belief the NRA stands in the way of passing a law. SHARK has been dedicated to this cause since the 1990’s as have other advocates. Pennsylvania has been the only state where live pigeon shoots are exempt from animal cruelty laws.
The contestants/shooters travel from other states to attend live pigeon shoots notoriously held at Winge Pointe Hunt Club, Berks County and the Philadelphia Gun Club, Bucks County, both in Pennsylvania. Evidently, those who participate can now travel to three more states- Alabama, South Caroline and Maryland- despite it being illegal in those states.
It appears abusing and/or torturing live pigeons is found to be entertaining and profitable because of prize money. Is money the reason for the increase in popularity of these antiquated shoots?
With the disturbing news of three new states participating in live pigeon shoots, will more states become involved in this barbaric “sport?” Just when you believed live pigeon shoots were slowly eroding away in Pennsylvania, we’re now seeing a trend of more live pigeon shoots in other states. Immensely unsettling. At the very least, why aren’t these clubs being charged with animal cruelty?
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and is an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the show, ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her once-abused tripawd, Brody. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows, articles, and podcasts you may have missed!
Animal cruelty seems to be increasingly worsening. Shooting birds who have zero chance of escaping isn’t hunting, a sport. It’s sick entertainment for those participating in this senseless abuse. It sure seems like we’re going backwards.
Sick
They don’t eat them. They don’t use any of their body parts for anything. They shoot, kill and cause serious harm for no other reason than for the fun of it. That’s pathetic.
Yes. Exactly! They waste them for NOTHING! Total losers!
Sigh
I don’t approve of live pigeon shoots. It’s hideous. I also don’t approve of some of the tactics used by SHARK. They can get annoying or obnoxious in the field. That won’t help them get far in their work. People are turned off by that.
People are morons/idiots/stupid! Sigh.
Pigeon shooters are vile human beings. Enough said.
Funny. We have a fit about killing nasty pigeons but don’t give a rip about human life.