Beware Who'S Watching You

[Roland]

PETA objects to Pasco lifting limit on homing pigeons

 

By Jodie Tillman, Times Staff Writer

 

DADE CITY — Back in February, the owners of some luxury lofts in north Pasco asked for permission to add countless new tenants.

 

At the time, no one seemed to give a hoot.

 

The loft owners were members of the Gulfcoast Homing Pigeon Club, and the tenants were their birds.

 

Club members wanted Pasco to reconsider the limit of 20 birds per acre that is spelled out in county code. Human neighbors registered no objections. Pasco officials were poised to lift the restrictions.

 

But last month, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals entered the picture, and they had serious allegations about pigeon racing, the sport of releasing the birds hundreds of miles from their homes and seeing which ones can return fastest.

 

PETA told commissioners in a letter that it was not an old-fashioned hobby but a potentially lucrative investment that puts money over the health of the birds.

 

What's more, PETA said, the industry is predicated on "unlawful racing, unlawful gambling and callously reducing intelligent and sensitive animals to nothing more than disposable commodities."

 

Gulfcoast homing members told the Pasco Times that PETA has got it all wrong: on the gambling allegations, on the cruelty allegations, on the money-making part.

 

"You don't make money racing," said Shady Hills resident Zig Vanderwall, 67, a club founder who has been raising pigeons since he was 9 years old.

 

Either way, county officials on Tuesday put the brakes on the proposed changes and decided to sort it all out at a public workshop they will schedule at a later date.

 

Pasco County has quietly become one of the top destinations for people who want to raise and train homing pigeons. Officials from the 200-member Gulfcoast Homing Pigeon Club say that most of them have moved to the area just to be in proximity to each other. And their bird lofts aren't cheap: Some cost as much as $50,000, said Vanderwall.

 

"We're pretty much the leaders in pigeon racing in the United States," assistant county zoning administrator Lee Millard told commissioners on Tuesday.

 

But in the July 13 letter to commissioners, PETA lawyer Jeffrey Kerr said Gulfcoast club trainers kill off the old pigeons to make room for the younger, faster ones.

 

"Nearly all of the surviving birds, most of whom are not even 1-year-old and remain healthy, will have their necks wrung by their trainers to make room in the lofts for the new arrivals because young birds are most lucrative," the letter says. "Only a select few winners and those chosen for breeding will be spared this death."

 

Vanderwall said that the accusation is false. He said birds race up till about the age of 3 and then they are used for breeding.

 

"We don't wring their necks," said Vanderwall. "I don't know where they got that."

 

PETA, which has gone after pigeon racers in other states, also says that the Gulfcoast club violates Florida law that prohibits any racing — other than horse and greyhound racing — that is conducted for any stake or purse.

 

Gulfcoast conducts one major race a year, which it calls "the largest and most prestigious futurity race in the country!"

 

The upcoming event in December features a $40,000 first prize for the pigeon that returns to Pasco first from a dropoff point roughly 300 miles away in Georgia. (The fastest ones will likely take less than six hours, said Vanderwall.)

 

Vanderwall said PETA is off-base in its assertions though. Only people who own pigeons qualify for the prize; no one could come off the street and place a bet as he could at a greyhound race.

 

"We do not gamble," he said. "There is an entry fee, just like at a bass tournament."

 

Vanderwall said pigeon owners from all over the country ship their birds to Gulfcoast trainers. Sixty percent of the prize money goes to the breeder and 40 percent to the trainer.

 

Prize money is collected from the $100 per bird entrance fee. Around 37,000 birds have been shipped here so far for the event, Vanderwall said.

 

The classic is the club's only big event of the year, he said. The prize in other smaller races is just a trophy.

 

Millard, the Pasco zoning official, said it's not just PETA complaining now. Some members of the Gulfcoast club have come forward to say the restrictions on the number of birds are needed, he said.

 

He said the county may want to consider making pigeon lofts subject to county inspections, limiting the size of the lofts and limiting the number of hours per day that the birds are exercised.

 

Commissioner Michael Cox said he was struck by the amount of prize money at stake, according to a flier for the club's December race.

 

"When this was originally proposed to us, it was presented to us in a way that it was people's hobby," he said. "This goes beyond being a hobby."

_________________

 

Again I urge you all to READ nigh all of this. Statistics over the last ten years and sub headings.

People in Greenhouses etc. eh!

 

http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

[just ask me]

great post Roland goes to show what these anti hunt bloodsports people are like they haven't a clue remember lads u have seen it pigeon racing is on there list

[Ian McKay]

Great post Roland

 

Having visited The Gulf Coast Club I can assure you it is very impressive but they spend a lot of money promoting there sport the club room is magnificent.

They race three times a week short / middle and long distance it is the most professional run set up I have seen

 

When fliers in other states retire a lot move there because of the pigeon racing the houses have huge gardens and the lofts do not look out of place

When I was over they were being investigated about gambling what brought this on a disgruntled member????

 

I can only hope they win there case but you are right these people are watching us even over here and it's only a matter of time before we get harrased

 

With all the recent losses and no interest in solving it we are going to attract more investigations

 

Look back as far as the Jubilee race disaster which was also swept under the carpet we never learn

 

We should have a spin doctor working for us to promote our sport and an organisation to look at losses it's to easy to blame others we need to look/help ourselves

[geordie1234]

just had a llok on there website some amazing lofts

[Roland]

A 'Spin doctor' Ian! I've been touting long and hard for nearly 20 years for a P.R. spokesman etc. The RPRA did and was looking at / into this a few years back. The 'Backlash' from the members was horrendous, simply saying that A. A £1 was too much and not warrented, and B. Surely with all the 'Rich People' company owners etc. etc. some one ought to be found to do it for Free! You, because they run sucessful buisness they had nothing to do, so should put their resauses to better use Ekk! Would be lol, but is a to sad if a joke!

 

this was a reply made - Via Repete' on the Alberts Classic site, which confirms what you say Ian.....

 

Quote:

F.Y.I.

The columnist that wrote this article and the zoning official have it wrong and are out right lying when they say: "Some Members of the Gulfcoast Club have come forward to say some restrictions on the number of birds are needed."

IT IS ONLY ONE GUY ! And he is the reason for this whole fiasco.

I'm not saying the club is totally without fault here, they had the opportunity to correct this zoning a few years back and did nothing. It was their opinion to leave it alone, that nothing would come of it, so they stuck their heads in the sand.

Well all it took was one malcontent to go to the county and start screaming. And now Pandora's Box has been opened and the feathers will start flying, and it didn't have to be like that.

Back in 2003 Hernando County (that would be the short end of GHC) had a similar problem. The zoning people wanted to bring pigeons into the ordinance since they were not included and wanted to limit the number of birds per parcel (didn't matter 1, 2 or 10 acre) to 45 birds per. Back then We (Members of FSI & GHC) took on the county with a series of meetings and were successful to have the ordinance brought into our favor.

They rewrote the proposed amendment to permit a loft of 1500sq. ft. per acre no limit on birds. This of course is for the AR & R districts.

The officers of the GHC back then had the same opportunity to do same in Pasco and blew it...........so now we have to fight PETA and anyone that thinks pigeons are flying rats..............and there are a lot with that sentiment. I'm constantly defending & educating people about our Sport.

Just as a side note...........I got hassled by the officers and a few in the clique during our Classic last year...........I actually had the unmitigated Gaul to invite members of the Hernando County Commission, County Attorney and Code Enforcement Director to our club house to witness what our Sport is all about and what we do for the economy of both counties. Oh yeah, even the Engineer that drew up our print for the new addition. These people up till this time had no idea what we the flyers have vested in this Sport..............needless to say.......they were very impressed.

And I can say with their approval Hernando County IS PIGEON FRIENDLY !

[Guest bigda]

i suppose, they could be all reminded, that if it was not for the rigorous training, that the pigeons get, then there would have been none made a Dickinson's medal hero, for there effort at war and at peace time

[Guest bigda]

i suppose, they could be all reminded, that if it was not for the rigorous training, that the pigeons get, then there would have been none made a Dickinson's medal hero, for there effort at war and at peace time

 

 

and futher to the reply should the satailite and cable be knocked out during wars again, well pigeons could

again come to the fore

[Ian McKay]

Thanks Roland glad I got something right :rolleyes:

 

Yes pigeons might have to help us out in the future Bigda they are wonderfull servants :D

[Roland]

Actually Bigda, pigeons have made a very big come back regards 'Messages' and the Services. Many nations realise that anything sent via Electric / wave lengths can, indeed is and has been intercepted, read and deciphered. Whereas the pigeon is not.... only if caught or is Hawk bait.

[Ian McKay]

Actually Bigda, pigeons have made a very big come back regards 'Messages' and the Services. Many nations realise that anything sent via Electric / wave lengths can, indeed is and has been intercepted, read and deciphered. Whereas the pigeon is not.... only if caught or is Hawk bait.

 

 

Are they still being used in a hospital to deliver samples quicker

[Roland]

Yes ... also they have ousted the Storks as they are more reliable and fly in any weather lol

[Ian McKay]

Yes ... also they have ousted the Storks as they are more reliable and fly in any weather lol

 

 

 

:D :D :D :D

[Guest Owen]

I have believed for some time now that we should have a code of welfare for the pigeons. It should cover things like transportation, recovery of stray birds and training courses to ensure that pigeon keepers are aware of the law regarding the management of health. As I understand it, the Australians formally train a Club Member as a health monitor to have responsibility for inspecting the birds' condition at the Marking Stations. He is trained by a Vet and carries a Certificate of Competence.

I have no doubt that we are being watched and if we are not seen to be responsible we could face all sorts of trouble. On the other hand, perhaps the RSPB want us to carry on providing dinners for their pets.

[JohnQuinn]

I don't see it as we Need to be Seen to be doing something about it, we should be doing it for ourselves and our doos, but here's the rub, there are far too many amongst us who couldn't care less about getting involved in finding solutions, they simply breed more than they have room for and send doos away racing who are not ready for a toss never mind a race.

When for example did a member of your club refuse to put another man's doos into the basket because it was in no fit state to go??? Very Very few if any i would guess. We canny stop a man who over medicates his doos, in the belief they need it, from giving as much as he wants, That in my opinion is a HUGE part of the problems we face today in our sport. The most mild mannered members would be up in arms if his doo was refused entry or someone tried to tell him he cannot treat his doos for whatever he wishes too. Our sport is dying off in front of our eyes and not enough care about it to make a difference, those who actually would do something are hindered because they are the MINORITY in this.

Same old lines coming from them just now because of the heavy losses at the weekend but wait until winter and invite them on to a committee or focus group to get to the bottom of this and the SILENCE will be deafening.

This is not my Opinion on this, its what we are as a group, and there is not a thing we can do about it when our fellow fanciers have no interest in getting it sorted.