PiCAS INTERNATIONAL

Eleven pigeons fanciers from the USA face prison sentences after being charged with shooting, beating and suffocating dozens of protected hawks and falcons in an effort to protect their birds during racing events.  One of the accused even admitted spraying the falcons that he had caught in traps with bleach and ammonia.  The combination of these chemicals causes chlorine gas to be created so the falcons would have eventually died of suffocation after having experienced extreme pain for some considerable time before death. 

The charged men also admitted clubbing falcons to death in cages and shooting the birds with pellet guns.  Some of the men also admitted shooting hawks and falcons with shotguns.  One defendent even admitted to keeping a bucket full of talons cut from the hawks and falcons that he had trapped and slaughtered.

 
Following a nationwide undercover operation to investigate Californian pigeon clubs it was estimated that pigeon enthusiasts illegally kill between 1000 and 2000 hawks and falcons each year, and that is just in the Los Angeles area alone.  The eleven charged men face a maximum of 6-months in prison if found guilty.

Some years ago several extreme pigeon racing enthusiasts in the UK even suggested that they would attach explosive devices to some of their racing pigeons so that when they were caught by a hawk or falcon both birds would explode.  Although most pigeon racers and fanciers are adamant that they are passionate about the pigeons they breed and race it is quite clear that in some cases at least this is very definitely not the case!