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
San Bernardino, Calif. -- A just-completed PETA investigation into pigeon racing spanning many states, including California, 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 American Racing Pigeon Union and the Arizona Federation of Racing Pigeon Clubs, which transported pigeons from Phoenix to San Bernardino County, where they were released in December 2011. 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 San Bernardino County district attorney and the U.S. attorney general and called on them to open criminal investigations.
"Pigeon racing is a 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 they are transporting pigeons into the state for illegal gambling right under the noses of law-enforcement officials in San Bernardino County and the state of California."
PETA's investigators documented the transport and release of thousands of birds from hundreds of miles away and accumulated evidence that in many races, more than 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 the 827 pigeons released from San Bernardino County for the December 2, 2011, race alone, only 487 birds reportedly made it back by nightfall (not counting the 1,487 birds entered in the race who didn't survive the training). 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.
