San Francisco Animal Care and Control last weekend rescued dozens of domesticated birds that were dumped illegally in Golden Gate Park, ACC spokesperson Deb Campbell said.
About 27 birds were retrieved in a recovery effort last weekend after parkgoers reported the birds on the loose, Campbell said.
All the birds recovered last weekend are of domestic breeds normally raised to be eaten. Most are King pigeons, which Campbell said are "supersize pigeons," easily recognized as distinct from common pigeons.
"They're bred primarily for squab," Campbell said. "We see them frequently and we're very familiar with them. Not in this kind of quantity, but it happens all the time."
Campbell announced in a statement that ACC retrieved 183 domesticated birds in the city last year, 54 of them "dead, badly injured, or severely ill."
"People are really well meaning, they think it's going to be great and the animal's going to live a wonderful life," Campbell said. "That's not true. They don't know how to fend for themselves in the wild."
Some of the birds will probably be available for adoption through ACC next weekend, Campbell said. The others are being taken in by Palomacy, a local pigeon and dove rescue organization.
"When somebody puts them out there" in the wild, said Palomacy founder Elizabeth Young, "their lifespan is hours to days at best," so she suspects illegal dumping happens far more often than is reported.
Palomacy, which was founded 12 years ago and now handles pigeon and dove adoption across all of Northern California, has now helped find homes for over 1,000 birds, Young said. "There are so many businesses, sports and hobbies that use pigeons and treat them as disposable," Young said. "Basically we're the alternative to death."
Releasing domestic animals in the wild is "a bad idea — and it's also illegal," ACC reminds people regularly. "Abandoning or dumping of animals is a crime punishable by fines of up to $1000 and possible jail time."
People interested in adopting a King pigeon can visit Animal Care & Control daily from 12 noon to 5:30 pm, and until 6:30 pm on Wednesdays.
