Friday afternoon we received a call from the Ministry of Agriculture asking for our help with a group of confiscated pigeons.
Police had arrived to the Ministry with 'about 30 pigeons' that they had confiscated. These were homing pigeons being kept on roof tops near the airport. The Municipality has prohibited people from keeping the pigeons in the area as it is under the flight paths to the airport.
This group of pigeons were the first to be confiscated, but there was no plan from the Municipality of what to do with the birds once they were confiscated. The Ministry of Agriculture understandably did not want to be responsible for euthanizing these birds, and the police did not know what to do.
We let the Ministry know we were on our way to see the birds so we could determine how we could best help, but the ministry explained the birds were already on their way back to the police station as it was late in the day.
Arriving to the station we started the necessary paperwork to ensure that the birds were confiscated, why they were confiscated, and that they were being given to Animals Lebanon with no chance of them later being taken by the owner.
We could not see or hear the pigeons and asked where they were so we could understand what condition they were in and exactly how many. They took us back to the entrance of the station, and underneath a staircase sat a large burlap sack.
"The pigeons are there," they said.
We had walked right past the bag when we arrived and didn't even notice. Pushed back against the wall was quite literally a sack of pigeons.
The police did not know the exact number and there was no way to know if they were healthy, sick, or even all alive. It had been hours since the pigeons were put in this sack and the police explained that they had cut small holes so the birds could get air.
With the police report in hand the pigeons were loaded into the car and we were on our way back to the office.
A large crate was sent up in an empty room, full of water dishes, perches and food, not yet knowing exactly what to expect.
The sack, still full of pigeons, was placed in the crate and we began to cut it open. At first no one wanted to come out and they kept huddling together.
They were calm as we pulled each one out by hand - one, two, three...ten...twenty...finally at 27 the sack was empty.
Apart from being thirsty that all looked to be in good health, most hand bands on their legs, and it was clear they had been taken care of by their owner.
These 27 pigeons were saved, but the Municipality and police need to do better. It makes sense not to allow these animals to be kept in that area, but when confiscations are carried out a longer term solution needs to be in place.
Luckily they were not killed, but having the right equipment can make sure they are not injured while being taken from their owners.
What about the next confiscation, and the next? The police said this was the first of what they expect to be many.
A simple enclosure is all that is needed to house the pigeons, and if confiscations are going to continue to take place for pigeons and other animals then it is time that the government consider supporting the establishment of a rescue center.
