Poor Henry

[abbeypap]

I get emails EVERYDAY from non fanciers reporting lost pigeons. but thought I would share this one.

 

From Sue

 

I have to say I feel rather upset today and maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age.

 

I found an injured racing pigeon on my drive yesterday and gave it food and water, which it was happy to take.

 

I kept it safe overnight and this morning I took it to the local vet. We had to register it so gave it the name Henry. The vet examined it and it had an injured leg but was otherwise ok. They said if they were unable to trace the owner they would not pts as it could recover, and they would send it to a bird rehab centre. I was secretly hoping this would be the outcome.

 

Unfortunately, I had a call from the vet just now to say Henry had been reunited with his owner who had driven all the way from Glos (one and a half hours) to collect him. The receptionist seemed surprised at my disappointment but I pointed out that apparently Henry hadn't even been given a name by the owner, which didn't exactly suggest it was much valued. He clearly wasn't a very good racer as he was way off course and was also injured. I said I'd be surprised if poor Henry survived the night as I've been told they are usually got rid of if they are no good. The receptionist said she didn't think it likely the owner would drive all that way to get him if he was going to get rid of him. I said what do you expect him to do when a vet gets in touch. They could hardly be so brazen and say get rid of him. I said there might be some code of conduct and be worried the vet might report him.

 

No, call me an old cynic but I'd be amazed if poor Henry is still alive.

 

Sue

[andy Burgess]

what was your reply ?

[abbeypap]

Haven't replied as yet, want to make sure I get it right

[andy Burgess]

ok , its a shame Sue has such a negative view , despite re-assurance from the vet ?

[bibendium]

unfortunatly its a view many outwith our sport share

[abbeypap]

it is a view shared by many members of the public and one that I everyday try to change via the many phone calls and emails we get.

[Dooheed 5]

Here people say it all the time !!

[Delboy]

More negative stuff here, please lets bring some positivity into this cracking sport of ours.

[Kennybhoy]

More negative stuff here, please lets bring some positivity into this cracking sport of ours.

Well said Derek if a fancier keeps 200plus birds is he or she expected to remember all their names? come on if the fancier drove 150 miles the bird must be worth something to them

[bibendium]

I have a few names for some of ours, but cant repeat them on an open forum , mostly full of F,s & B,s,lol

[Guest paulrstokes]

make sure you do reply, your opportunity to put us in a good light

[KMCK]

the publics perception of pigeons and the fanciers is shocking if the public really knew the full truth of the matter it would be a different story, I mean the cost of racing and keeping pigeons is high by the time you have feed them paid your fees to race and also for medication and vaccination you are hundreds if not thousands a year, and also the amount of time and energy that we put in to get our birds in condition and to make sure they are healthy,

 

Personally we give all our birds the best we can afford to give them aswell as that if we do get them reported we go for them straight away to get the bird home am sure many of us are like this, but we can only do so much, I Would invite this woman to come to a fanciers loft everyday for a week including a race day then maybe she would understand what we actauly do for our birds that would maybe be an eye opener to what really goes on out there

[abbeypap]

make sure you do reply, your opportunity to put us in a good light

 

As we deal with quite a number of phone calls emails etc 7 days a week I have never discussed any pigeon or pigeon fancier in any way othe than in a postitive manner. After all I am one of you.

 

Sue is now happy that the pigeon is back in it's own loft recovering from it's injuries and has a better understanding of the distances pigeons race from and that sometimes logistics makes it difficult to rush off at every phone call to collect the pigeon, and that we rely on a network of fanciers helping each other or when needed couriers.

 

This post was never meant to show pigeon fanciers in a negative way, but merely to highlight the perception some memebers of the public have of us.

 

Anyway enjoyed the chat, off to sort out pigeons for tonights race marking

[Roland]

Personally I think the fancier deserves a pat on the back and a great cheer for what he did. Sadly, today, so few bother even to reply, and many more ask if they could ... So well done that fancier. Regards Sue, I feel she would have like to have kept Henry, and to see him well again. Maybe a Dove cote and some squeakers wouldn't go amiss ... but then would she be so interested in looking after a bird full time? Maybe yes... maybe no, but there must be many fanciers near to her that should could enjoy their company and a chat.

[newflyer]

good afternoon folks as to poor henry i assume that is the young hen i picked up from whithorn that belonged to my son (11yrs old )

who has just started flying this year. myself and my son have a duty of care for all our birds and will always make every attempt to

ensure all our birds make it home safe.in the short time we have been racing our birds we have picked up and returned several birds to fanciers and will always assist when it comes to returning birds home. so if appeypap would like to let sue know that the bird is doing fine and was back out last night with all the rest of the young birds.it did have a name but we will call her sue from now on.

 

ps got phone call about bird on Wednesday at 3pm and collected the bird the next day .

[Roland]

Well done New flyer... you make many ashamed. If only more were as such. Sad and strange how the good ones often take an unfair punch eh!