In Defense of Animals Offers Reward to Capture NY City Pigeon Netters
Pigeon nettings in the New York City area are becoming more aggressive and frequent. Netters working in a pair start before sunrise netting in Manhattan, the five boroughs and beyond. They have been seen in brand new SUVs, and since it is a cash-only business with no taxes paid, this appears to be a lucrative business. Pigeons are sold to out of state shooting galleries and restaurants. Although it is against the law to remove pigeons from their habitat, no one has stopped the netters from doing so. The public may unknowingly be eating pigeon meat as it may be substituted for quail, squab or even chicken. Only the New York City Board of Health has the authority to remove pigeons, or a permit or license is required from them. If you care about pigeons and justice, please contact the Mayor of New York City and demand that the appropriate action be taken.
New York, New York (PRWEB) July 13, 2007 -- For the past several months the New York Bird Club has been concerned with the matter of pigeon nettings in the New York City area. Hungry pigeons are baited by netters with food and then netted, dumped into a van and then allegedly sold to out of state pigeon shoots and restaurants as fare for the menu. The Humane Society of the US in Washington, DC has been working on the Hegins pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania for years.
Although the public has expressed sympathy, outrage and concern for pigeons and there have been eye witnesses, to date the New York Bird Club has not received any tangible information to turn over to the District Attorney's office who have expressed an interest in the case. Several individuals have attempted to file complaints with the New York Police Department, but they refused to cooperate and Incident Reports were not taken.
The New York Bird Club contacted the Civilian Complaint Revue Board to file a complaint against the New York City Police Department, but they refused to take any action. Once we can establish precisely what the law is concerning removing pigeons from their habitat, we will be standing on firmer ground. Laws concerning pigeons are ambiguous and difficult to find since pigeons are not considered native wildlife, and laws that protect wildlife do not apply to pigeons since they are not indigenous to the United States.
The government agencies we should be concerned with are New York City Department of Agriculture and Market, the Department of Environment Conservation and the New York City Department of Health. The following statutes may apply.
21 NYCRR § 9003.12 (2007)§ 9003.12 Park animals.
No person shall within any park molest, chase, wound, trap, hunt, shoot, throw missiles at, kill, remove or have in his possession any undomesticated animal, or any significant portion of the remains of any domesticated or undomesticated animal, or any nest, or the young of any undomesticated animal or the egg(s) of any undomesticated animal; or knowingly buy, receive, have in his possession, sell or give away any such undomesticated animal or egg taken from or killed within any park.
NYS Environmental law § 11-0513. Pigeons.
1. No person shall at any time, by any means or in any manner capture, kill or attempt to capture or kill any Antwerp or homing pigeon, wearing a ring or seamless leg band with its registered number stamped thereon; nor shall any person remove such mark. No person except the lawful owner shall detain, possess, or transport Antwerp or homing pigeons wearing a ring or seamless leg band with the registered number thereon.
2. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the local legislative body of any city, town or village, or in the city of New York the Department of Health may take or issue a permit to any person to take pigeons at any time and in any humane manner in such municipality, whenever such body or administration finds that pigeons within such municipality are or may become a menace to public health or a public nuisance; provided, however, that no pigeon may be taken in a manner which will endanger other animal life, persons or property.
Only cowards would shoot down a defenseless bird weighing but a few ounces with no means of escape for their amusement and egos. If you would like to put an end to the cruel matter of netting pigeons, please contact the New York Bird Club.
Update:
In Defense of Animals (IDA) is offering a REWARD of $2,500. for Information that leads to the Arrest & Conviction of a person or persons found to have netted and captured pigeons in New York City for the purpose of killing them for human or animal consumption, canned hunting or any organized sale or transfer of the birds that will lead to their death.
Eyewitnesses only must Report Information to both New York City Humane Law Enforcement at (212) 876-7700 ext. 4450 & In Defense of Animals (415) 448-0048 "The NY Bird Club alerted us to reports of large numbers of pigeons being netted in New York City in the early mornings. IDA is offering a $2,500 reward in the hope of turning up evidence to find the offender(s.)
We suspect that the birds are being transported out of state for canned hunts and even used for human consumption in local live bird markets and restaurants. We are concerned that this could eventually be a source of bird flu transmission to humans." said IDA's East Coast Director, Valerie Sicignano.
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