Please Say No to “Dove” Releases!
and a proposed alternative
A cruel use for beautiful innocent birds
Content warning: this article discusses bird injury and death. Please take care.
The Unseen Cost of Dove Releases
White doves are universal symbols of love and peace, yet every single “dove release” hides a terrible truth: dove release companies exploit these birds, profiting from people’s desire to have white birds fly at their special occasion. Unfortunately, this is a cruel business that often results in injury or death for the birds.
White homing pigeons (marketed as “doves” because most people associate doves — but not pigeons — with peace and love) are bred to be used at weddings, funerals, and other events. They are taken from their home and tossed into the air in celebration or in mourning. No matter what the occasion, being released far from home is deeply distressing to the birds.
Pigeons are all about home and family, and they desperately try to fly back to their loft. Some make it back, but these are birds with no wild survival skills, and their bright white feathers are a beacon to predators. Many are caught and killed by these predators, while others die from vehicle strikes, dehydration, and starvation. The very luckiest are found by good Samaritans and rescued, often badly injured.
Release “dove” — injured and frightened, hiding under a car
Dove release companies will claim that their birds are well cared for and “properly trained” for this work. To be clear: no amount of care or training can prepare a domestic bird to fly among wild predators.
Some people will say, “Well that’s the cycle of life. It’s nature!” But there is nothing “natural” about taking defenseless domestic animals and forcing them into contact with wild animals who are hunting them. It is the same as releasing a pet dog or cat onto a freeway full of traffic.
Hurt and frightened. Tame birds need to be protected.
Bird Loss and Death are Common
Dove release companies often boast that they never lose birds. That is categorically false. Palomacy, along with every other pigeon rescue, is full of “dove release” survivors, many having suffered terrible injuries that leave them permanently disabled. Since they are bred to be disposable, the release companies don’t provide vet care for the injured, nor do they accommodate birds who have been maimed by predators.
Stardust will never fly again.
Culling Non-White Birds
In addition, natural selection does not favor white feathered pigeons, so some babies born in “wedding dove” lofts have a few grey feathers. These babies are either killed immediately, sold to people who use them for things like dog training, or dumped in public areas — we have found many discarded almost-white pigeons huddled together in parks, waiting for help.
This “flawed” baby homing pigeon was found in a dumpster, most likely dumped as “unfit” for business. His name is Johnny and Palomacy found him a forever home. There are never enough homes for all the pigeons in need!
“Do-It-Yourself” Release of Other White Birds
White Homing pigeons suffer from this business, but even more unfortunate are the other types of white pigeons such as fledgling King pigeons (bred for meat and sold at poultry markets), or tiny Ringneck doves, purchased at pet stores, who have neither homing ability nor home. People purchase and release these birds in order to avoid the expense of professional dove release. These birds have zero chance of survival if they aren’t rescued.
Baby King Pigeons rescued after their “release” at a funeral
There Is a Better Way: An Alternative to Dove Releases
We agree that pigeons are beautiful, gentle souls, whose loyalty and grace are both inspiring and comforting. We too have lost loved ones, and we understand the desire for meaningful ceremony and the symbolism of peace at a memorial. We believe there is a better option: please consider constructing an aviary for rescued pigeons on the cemetery grounds — a place where people can visit the birds, sit and hear their gentle cooing, and leave donations in memory of their loved ones. You would be sharing the joy and solace of the birds’ presence, while also saving lives.
An aviary for beautiful rescued pigeons is a place of true solace
True peace isn’t represented by letting a domestic bird go into an environment it cannot survive, but by giving it a safe, protected home, giving sanctuary to the birds and comfort to visitors. We propose a confluence of ceremony and true compassion.
Please contact Cynthia at cynthia@pigeonrescue.org to talk about the possibilities.
Read more about the problems with “dove” releases:
Help Spread the Word: Dove Releases Kill
The Truth About Dove Releases (written by a former insider)
