As Bets Climb, Thousands of Birds Never Make It Home, Many Deliberately Killed
For Immediate Release:
April 30, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Phoenix -- A PETA investigation into pigeon racing spanning many states, including Arizona, reveals rampant illegal gambling in violation of state and federal laws—including felony gambling laws, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and tax laws—to the tune of $200,000 or more in stakes per race. Part of PETA's investigation centered on the American Racing Pigeon Union (ARPU)—the largest pigeon-racing organization in the country, with 700 affiliated clubs and approximately 10,000 members—whose 2011 convention race was hosted by the Arizona Federation of Racing Pigeon Clubs in Phoenix. PETA's investigators documented that race organizers discussed how they conceal their illegal betting activities from the authorities. PETA has turned its evidence over to the Maricopa County attorney and the U.S. attorney general, calling on them to open criminal investigations.
"Pigeon racing is a surprisingly cruel enterprise driven by money, but the birds pay the ultimate price," says general counsel to PETA Jeff Kerr. "These clubs kill off birds by the thousands and handle bundles of illegal gambling loot right under the noses of law-enforcement officials in Phoenix and the state of Arizona."
PETA's investigators documented the transport and release of thousands of birds from hundreds of miles away and accumulated evidence that in any given race, 60 percent of the birds never make it back to their lofts or mates because of extreme weather, raptors, electric lines, foul play, and exhaustion. Out of 2,294 baby pigeons shipped to the Phoenix area for training for the ARPU convention race alone, only 827 birds survived to race day. And out of the 827 surviving birds released near Daggett, Calif., for the race, only 487 had made it back to Phoenix by nightfall. Birds who return but who consistently finish out of the money are typically killed by suffocation, drowning, or manual decapitation. One racer told PETA's investigators that when starting out in pigeon racing, "The first thing you have to learn—how to kill pigeons."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
