Yesterday, SHARK, Showing Animals Respect and Kindness organization, held a press conference on the steps of the Rotunda building in Harrisburg for the sole purpose of exposing obscene cruetly inflicted upon unsuspecting pigeons in a video taken by SHARK at Winge Pointe Hunting Resort this past September 30th. Winge Pointe held a tower pigeon shoot on their grounds in Shoemakersville, PA, in which birds were “stomped, crushed, had their heads ripped off, kicked, swung around, thrown in the air and hurled to the ground.” According to SHARK, some of the worst abuse was committed by boys.
You can view the video here. According to SHARK, the most graphic footage can be seen at the 10 minute mark.
SHARK says approximately 22,000 birds are used as targets every year and are captured on state land and from the streets of New York. Very few survive the shoots but many aren’t killed outright either. SHARK has documented many pigeon shoots and they know firsthand how the pigeons suffer a slow, cruel death. They have saved some of the pigeons but unforutantely, most do not survive as stated previously.
Berks County District Attorney, John Adams, Police Commissioner, Frank Noonan, and NRA Lobbyist, John Hohenwater, were all invited to the press conference. None of the men were present at the Rotunda.
Pennsylvania is the only state to openly hold live pigeon shoots in the nation. I personally don’t comprehend the mentality of those who choose to kill an animal by kicking or throwing it into the air but also while it lies on the ground after being injured by a shooter. Pigeon shoots are absurd to me and to others including hunters. This isn’t hunting. This is aiminng, shooting and killing pigeons for the sole purpose of killing an animal. There is no other rationale behind these shoots since the meat is not used for food. Absurdity and cruelty at its finest. When will Pennsylvania follow the rest of the nation and put an end to these horrific shoots?
What do you think of the footage? Do you think it’s animal abuse? If not, please explain why.