550 pigeons rescued in North Carolina
Rescuers in North Carolina recently rescued more than 500 pigeons from a Greensboro home. Guildford County Animal Services and two other Charlotte-based bird rescue services initially thought the call was for about 300 birds. Instead, they found about 550 pigeons in a shed behind the house, hidden from the street.
“When I walked in, my jaw kind of hit the ground,” rescuer and pigeon owner Dillya Eisert told WFMY. “I could see well over 300 pigeons…and I kind of freaked out. But then it was just, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get to work.'”
A group of animal care technicians, a veterinary technician and animal control officers safely retrieved the pigeons from more than 12 crates and carriers. According to WFMY, the house is currently vacant and relatives of the previous owner said a tenant living in the basement owned the birds.
The pigeons are now in the hands of Carolina Waterfowl Rescue, where they will be fed and rehabilitated. After evaluation, healthy birds should be available for adoption.
According to the Association of Avian Veterinarians, pigeons can make good pets, but only if they are properly housed and cared for. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years and
are said to have gentle dispositions, affectionate personalities, and sometimes form close bonds with their caregivers. Contrary to their reputation as “winged rats,” they actually like cleanliness.
“Contrary to what most people think, pigeons prefer to be clean!” write AAV veterinarians Maryella Cohn and Zoë Selby. “They need regular baths in fresh water to maintain their beautiful plumage and spend a lot of time preening each day.”
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