why do i bother

[DJ]

just reported an old racer as i thought it may have been a favourite of somebodys only to be told to dispose of it which i wont do  this pigeon was lost from france but apparently the fancier doesnt keep/race any more,is disabled and cant afford to send for it (1 excuse would have done) this pigeon has probably flown thousands of miles over the years in many races only to be discarded like this >  and we wonder why fanciers get a bad name  he didnt even say goodbye before putting the phone down      debbie >

[Guest shadow]

happens all the time some people just can not be bothered to get their birds back I would report throuh the union and insist he claims it

[pigeonscout]

Call him back and tell him you will bring it to a vet to have it dispose off and you will get the vet to send him the bill.

[michelle]

yea u should do that take it the vet that way he will pay i think he should do is own dirty work >

[Guest]

Call him back and tell him you will bring it to a vet to have it dispose off and you will get the vet to send him the bill.

and remember sont say"goodbye" before you put the phone down , lets hope it goes on to breed a few winners .                     andy.

 

 

[Guest Owen]

Debbie

I am truly sorry to hear that you have been treated like this. I think we can all talk about incidents like it. Over a period of years, I have become very angry at some of the responses I have had.

There are a lot of Fanciers out there who send far more pigeons to races than they should. I am sure that a lot of them have no intention of sending for stray birds, and in any case they would be hard pressed to find the money if they had a number reported at one time.

I know that a lot of them try not to wing stamp their birds and when they do, they do their best to smudge the stamp, so that it can not be read.

I think that it is about time that bans were issued when Fanciers behave in this rude and ignorant manner. And the authorities should insist on payment, when a bird is reported. And it is about time that the repatriation payments were made to the Union so that they can regulate things properly.

I have read a lot of complaints about the fact that stray birds are not reported. Is it any wonder, considering the hassle that those who do report birds get from the Owners? As for me, I do not accept any excuses. I always insist on the bird being sent for.

I am fed up with being told that, "I'm a pensioner" or "I'm disabled" and even "I'm unemployed". Not my problem. SEND FOR YOUR BIRD.

I keep 12 widowhood cocks and I often send just 6 to races. And they win regularly in a very strong Club. I think that the Mob Flyers are kidding themselves, but it is their choice. Just don't expect me to do their dirty work for them. I want it to be, SEND FOR YOUR BIRD OF FACE A BAN. And as far as the gentleman who messed you about is concerned, I would like him to be on list so that he can not re-enter the Sport until he has paid a fee to cover his bad conduct.

Finally, I have to say, that there are an awful lot of good decent people racing pigeons, who do not deserve to be contaminated by these clowns. So the sooner we either, get rid of the Clowns or force them into line, the better.

[gangster]

debbie im afraid this situation is becoming more common but without good people like yourself  caring enough to go the extra mile in helping repatriate lost birds we the fanciers are doomed!! please dont let the occassional idiot stop you helping others as it could be my bird next or 1 of the members off heres and i would be over the moon knowing it was being cared for by you....mick

[Roland]

Well we have had this debate a few times, and the scenario of Strays is out of hand.

The cost of retrieving is, whether we like it or not, too much for many fanciers a nigh £30 a throw.

Before the out cries of 'I do' and they should etc. beside the criteria of adding of 'If they can't afford it, they should pack up' scenario over 50% would sooner or later be forced to pack up whether we believe it or like it or not.

Seems that is the real reason why the RPRA etc. don't enforce it I guess. Soon would mean the cost of racing going up at least 60% to all who remain.

Now I agree that it is a shame and with much I've written above. But I also accept that many just can not afford it. - No I'm not talking about those that can of course, these I suspect send for or retrieve their birds.

The Mortgage, comes first, the clothing and feeding the kids. Each week many fancier juggle the books to make not only ends to meet, but try and justify the expense to wife’s and kids.

Never mind the lad drinking 10 pints a night, these are not in the majority, and far from it - but the lad that has one or two and shoots back to the misses etc.

Many are, and more so now, are on minimum wage. £240 a week less stoppages! Or even less if not doing a full week. And will be a darn site worse when the Tories get in, and that with out the promise to do the NHS AWAY with, and everyone having to take out insurances to cover illnesses, dentists etc. etc. Mortgaged etc. etc. etc means it will only get worse, so will have to become acceptable if only via turning a blind eye.

And we need the grass routes flyers. Whose says they aren't entitled, and those hat moan are often glad of them that they beat each week.

Stray centres seem to struggle to get off the ground etc. etc. Because too many want a lot for doing nothing, and far too many are only too quick to stick the boot in and brow beat those having no options.

Though I hasten to added i don't put DJ in that cartography in the slightest. Indeed not the majority fortunately. But it is another expenses (Feed / racing etc. etc.) that wife’s have at their disposal to harp on to get them to pack up altogether. JMO.

Why does DJ bother, like the rest of us, because we enjoy our hobby. So I for one wouldn't put a barrier up to stop others from trying to enjoy the same. Pain the But? Yes! Do we need them? Of course. racing is in  a bad shape now, without making others pack up.

P.s. when there are no apples in the barrel, no good with all the scenarois of there should be, and putting others houses in order, No apples in barrels means quite simple you can't take any out! So report and get them banned. Personally I would be ashamed to vote that way, or go down that road. Been skint and hard up, had my tough luck days and know what it's like to not be able to do what others take for granted. Infact still am lol.

[Roland]

debbie im afraid this situation is becoming more common but without good people like yourself  caring enough to go the extra mile in helping repatriate lost birds we the fanciers are doomed!! please dont let the occassional idiot stop you helping others as it could be my bird next or 1 of the members off heres and i would be over the moon knowing it was being cared for by you....mick

 

Good post, and the other side we all need to remember and strive to be....

[pjc]

2 out of 3 oldbirds i've reported this year have suposidly belonged to fanciers who have given up!

Ask him who his club sec was so you can offer the bird to one of his fellow members, he might change his story!

[Guest Owen]

Well, here we go again. On the radio today I here that the Government are planning on suppling drug adicts with heroin on the NHS. Because, the poor things could'nt help getting addicted. And when we get intruders bent on taking what we have worked hard to get we are not allowed to hurt the poor things. Then of course there are the poor bored creatures who burn down Pigeon Lofts with the birds inside. They are given Community Service to teach them about responsibility, except that they don't bother to go most of the time. And nobody thinks it is important to make them serve their punishment. How many older people will be happy to walk through a town or city centre on Friday and Saturday nights. Nothing is really done to prevent the drunken brutes from doing as they please and getting away with it. How many people would want to do the job of a teacher these days. In a lot of schools the classrooms are more like zoos, with the inmates running amoke. Of course we can not insist that these poor unloved excuses for children behave, because they have their human rights and we must not upset them. And there is more along this vein, as everybody knows.

Sport has always been the refuge of decent ideals and fair play has always been the way things were done. Now I have to listen to Roland telling me that it is alright for people to behave badly and insult those who are trying to do the decent thing. Well Roland, we are all entitled to our views and both you and I are known to be very forthright in ours. And usually I would be prepared to go along with the democratic way, but not in cases like this. Don't get me wrong, I would not like to see the Sport die. But if keeping it alive involves turning a blind eye to rude and ignorant people behaving badly and refusing to accept their strays back then I think it is time to draw a line. Then there is the case for cruelty. Pigeons are entitled to fair and reasonable treatment. They never asked to be raced. We are exploiting them. I have no quarrel with that but if we are going to let these clowns get away with not sending for their birds a lot will be just left to die. Fanciers will not want to have them in, to give them help to get home. And of course there will be a lot that will be killed out of hand and put into the dustbin because the finder will not want the hassle. Surely no-one would condone this sort of thing. NO, if they can not or will not send for their strays they should loose their right to keep and race pigeons. In my view, for us to suport people like this will, in the end, cost us all dearly. Imagine the uproar if things like this got into the public domain. Come on Roland, let us treat these beautiful creatures with the the love and respect that they deserve.    

[Taylorsloft]

just reported an old racer as i thought it may have been a favourite of somebodys only to be told to dispose of it which i wont do  this pigeon was lost from france but apparently the fancier doesnt keep/race any more,is disabled and cant afford to send for it (1 excuse would have done) this pigeon has probably flown thousands of miles over the years in many races only to be discarded like this >  and we wonder why fanciers get a bad name  he didnt even say goodbye before putting the phone down      debbie >

 

name and shame him  

[pjc]

 

name and shame him  

 

I agree, lets see if he realy has packed up!

 

 

[DJ]

thanx 4 all the feedback guys/girls  the thing that annoyed me was his attitude as if i was being a pest >  ok he says he dont keep/race anymore,is disabled and cant afford to send  so does that mean his problem should now become my problem-i dont think so  it is/was his bird so he should still send for it,what if i was a non fancier? thanks for your kind words mick(ganster) u know any stray birds will be helped if they enter my loft  i also agree with owen when he says that payment should be made to the authorities-or i think they should make follow up calls to see if the stray has been collected/released    the old stray hen is still here and ive decided to retire her (if she stays ?) until she goes up to that great big loft in the sky  shes very tame and is in very good shape with snowy white wattles so she can go in my loft tomoro and meet the rest of my gang but who knows she may well strike off for home now that ive got attached to her :-/  i have to say not all fanciers are the same and ive even made some friends with fanciers who,ve birds ive reported but this particular fancier took the biscuit with his bad attitude-manners cost nothing  anyway rant over  take care   debbie

[pjc]

still think you should name and shame but well done for taking the bird on!

[billt]

Of course she'll stay with you, sounds like the best home she's ever had  

[wings]

debbie im afraid this situation is becoming more common but without good people like yourself  caring enough to go the extra mile in helping repatriate lost birds we the fanciers are doomed!! please dont let the occassional idiot stop you helping others as it could be my bird next or 1 of the members off heres and i would be over the moon knowing it was being cared for by you....mick

 

Well said Gangster

[DJ]

wont name and shame pjc (even though my other half thinks i should ) as ive now decided to keep her and hopefully billt she will stay with me  :-/ will keep u posted    take care  debbie

[Roland]

Well I sympasise with DJ. Further I with his sentiments and frustrastion. We have all had it happen to us.

But Owen, I can't see for a moment any more pigeons dying because of these peoples attitudes.

There are roughly - whether we admit or like it or not - three catorgrathies Fanciers fall in. Those of us that report, collect or have sent back, even release to the owners loft, another thankless and not apreciated exercise many of have , and still do. Thoses that quickly put in a basket over night and water and feed it etc. Even for a few days till fit, and then release up the road from their' location.

The other is not worth speaking of and certainly doesn't need a mention, not only because of attitudes but what others see and may take note of. These bad fanciers are the ones that will eventually bring shame on our hobby.

Most fanciers I know are willing to hold for a few days and release them up the road for us.

So only birds that may die would be culled .... those that enter the wrong loft. I'd rather they'd do any of the otherpersonaly... But with so many with attitudes like DJ expierenced, that is one that causes the 'Not Tolerated attitude I'm afraid.

[stew 75]

it all comes down to thay can afford to keep them but cant afford to lose them

[Roland]

it all comes down to they can afford to keep them but cant afford to lose them

 

A very shrewed and sensible post. Wished I'd thought of putting that into such an easy to understand concept. A realism so simply put.

But unfortunately, the Haves will alway wish the Have nots to have even less.

Lets face it, if losing a bird meant it would die, most of us wouldn't entertain the sport, let alone be in it.

 

 

[chickadee]

Gladly not all fanciers are like this and they are in the minority, we have met/contacted and made some great friends through pigeons and also returning strays, I think you have to take each situation on it's own merits, with the amount of ybs losses this year the couriers potentially are on to a huge windfall :-/

[Roland]

Gladly not all fanciers are like this and they are in the minority, we have met/contacted and made some great friends through pigeons and also returning strays, I think you have to take each situation on it's own merits, with the amount of ybs losses this year the couriers potentially are on to a huge windfall :-/

 

Ditto, very true. I've gone - last season way out of my way to deliver, or release outside the owners home.... often not even bothered to say thanks. We do it, as simple as that, or won't. The won'ts come in all catorgry's obviously, but lay a heavy slant on those that 'Can't'!

Many of these, and we have them in most clubs if truth be known, are often the most helpful and hard working club members. The ones always there, who finds excuses why he don't train train his birds very often etc. Pride! Because money is tight but won't say and won't accept help. Funnily enough we would bend over backwards to help these :-/

Many that are comfortably off, are the ones like DJ's ignorant git, that is the nerb of it. they want to be shamed and named.... but then many genuine will be tarred with their' brush undeservedly so, and unfairly labelled. So if it means that those that need help, other cretins benefit, so be it I say, because there always is and will be 'Bad Apple' selfish morons. But I disregard that is every so often I can help a genuine case, which of course goes without saying most of you all will.

[Guest kev d]

ok the old guy should not have been rude , but he could have been telling the truth

i for one knows what it feels like not being able to afford to send for birds with being on

a cr.p wage it,s very hard to even race , and dont say if you can,t afford it dont race it,s the

only thing i want to do .

any thing can be worked out if we talk about how we can get birds back home with out costing

to much its happened on here many a times with people helping each other .

i know manners cost nothing but not every one has them , just my thoughts cheers kev

[Roland]

Kev, I believe that the embassament of not being able to afford may often attribute to an off handish, and unagreeable stance.

Seems that being skint, or not able to afford has become a stigma, moreso these days that say from the 50's onwards