As Bets Climb, Thousands of Birds Never Make It Home, Many Deliberately Killed
For Immediate Release:
May 1, 2012
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Oklahoma City -- A PETA investigation into pigeon racing spanning many states, including Oklahoma, reveals rampant illegal gambling in violation of state and federal laws—including the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, felony gambling laws, and tax laws—to the tune of $200,000 or more in stakes per race. Part of PETA's investigation centered on the Oklahoma City–based American Racing Pigeon Union (ARPU)—the largest pigeon-racing organization in the country, with 700 affiliated clubs and approximately 10,000 members—whose 2010 convention race was co-hosted by the Pigeon Racers of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. 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 Oklahoma County district attorney and the U.S. attorney general and called 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 Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma."
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 more than 1,500 baby pigeons shipped to Oklahoma City for the ARPU race alone, only 1,044 birds survived training. When the 1,044 survivors were released from Conway, Ark., only 420 made it back 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.