Pigeon Licensing Proposal October 2016 Introducing a Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw

Pigeon Licensing Proposal October 2016 Introducing a responsible pet ownership bylaw

Prepared for: City of Abbotsford Executive Council Meeting on October 24, 2016

Gurbir Singh Brar

October 17, 2016

Table of Contents

 Overview………………………………………………..………….…...3  The pigeon hobby…………………………….……………….....4-17  Introduction………………………………………….…………………5-10 . Pigeons in history…………………………...…………..………………...... 5 . The pigeon hobby……………………………………………………….…...5 . 50 famous pigeon fanciers……………………...... …6-7 . Facts about pigeons……………………………………………………....8-10  Housing………………………………………………………………..11-12  Choosing your pigeons……………………………...…….…………….13  Feeding your birds………………………………………………...…….13  Breeding practices…………………………….…………………………14  Training your pigeons…………………………………………….…15-16  Are humans at risk for disease from pigeons?...... 17  Pigeon assisted therapy and learning…………….…….18-38  Research essay (UFV - CRIM. 418 course)……………….……..19-34  “Flying to success” Homing pigeons and learning…………………35 . Benefits of using pigeons…………………………………………………..35 . “Flying to success” Program subject areas…………………………………36 . Young Wings Program – Jim Jenner Article………………………………37 . Wings spread in the classroom (news article)……………………………...38  Introducing a pigeon licensing program…………...……39-45  Importance of having a licensing program…………………………..40  Structure of the program………………………………………...……...41 . Process…………………………………………………………...……..41-42  Recommended rules, guidelines, and restrictions...... 43-45  Conclusion...... 46

 Overview Raising pigeons is a great hobby. Pigeons are a wonderful pass time when they receive the care they need and deserve. It is a hobby that gives hours of inexpensive fun and pleasure. They can be as clean and enjoyable as any dog, cat, or goldfish.

Racing pigeons is one form of enjoyment. There are racing pigeon clubs in many countries around the world. It is even the national sport of Belgium! Several times each week, clubs in Belgium send hundreds of thousands of pigeons to race for prizes that can be over $50,000! The Queen of England even has pigeon lofts. She was given them as a token of friendship from the King of Belgium. Racing pigeons in Canada and America is also becoming a big sport. One race in America recently paid out nearly $800,000 in prize money to the top birds! Raising pigeons is also a very popular hobby in India. In the state of Punjab, it is very rare not knowing someone who is a pigeon hobbyist! There are many competitions that occur with tippler pigeons and highflying pigeons. The winner is determined by whose pigeon flies the longest.

Individuals that raise pigeons have a very big responsibility. They are ambassadors for the sport. It takes time and effort to make sure that the loft is clean and well kept. Notice that “clean and well kept” is mentioned. A clean and well-kept pigeon loft does not have to be expensive. It can be very cheap, but it does have to be well kept and clean, regardless of how much it costs. The pigeons must also be well trained. They need to have good manners. If they are allowed to fly all over the neighborhood and land wherever they please, then they are not well mannered. When this happens, neighbors get upset. They also get upset when they have to look at a dirty and sloppy loft. When this happens, we are teaching our neighbors that pigeons are dirty. We are not being very good ambassadors for the sport in these cases.

However, there are pigeon fanciers in this city that take pride in the work they and their birds do. There are pigeon fanciers that have invested hundreds of dollars in building high quality pigeon lofts and purchasing high quality breeding stock. There are pigeon fanciers that ensure all of their birds are well fed and well taken care of. Cleaning lofts regularly and flying birds with care is practiced by many responsible pigeon pet owners.

The goal and purpose of this proposal is to illustrate that pigeons can be successfully raised in urban areas. This hobby can accomplish a lot in our beautiful city. Let’s provide an opportunity for responsible pigeon fanciers to safely keep their pets without having to live under the constant fear of having to give them away if the city receives any complaints! The birds are not the problem, irresponsible pet owners are!

 The Pigeon Hobby

 Introduction

Pigeons in History

Throughout history, pigeons have saved the lives of thousands of individuals. Although they have been used as messengers for thousands of years their most notable contributions came during World War One and World War Two. Pigeons were behind the survival and rescue of countless allied soldiers on the battle fronts.

The Dicken Medal is an award that is given to animals that have showed courage, bravery, and gallantry. The award is given to animals that show devotion and commitment to their work. In history, this award has been given to 67 animals. However, 32 pigeons have received this award out of the total 67. Pigeons have definitely played an important role in our military history.

Left: Dicken Medal

Top right: G.I. Joe – A famous pigeon that saved the lives of over 1,000 allied soldiers by delivering a message 20 miles away in 20 minutes.

The pigeon hobby

The pigeon hobby was extremely popular before the age of technology took over. There were thousands of pigeon fanciers across the globe. Although the hobby is in decline today, it is still present on all of the continents expect Antarctica. Belgium, Taiwan, China, South Africa, United States of America, and the Philippines all have thriving populations of pigeon fanciers. In Canada, the hobby is much more popular in the province of Ontario with thousands of pigeon fanciers. In British Columbia, there are pigeon fanciers that can be found throughout the province but a large proportion of fanciers live in the Lower Mainland region. It is a hobby that can be enjoyed by the entire family from the comfort of your backyard. While enjoying the outdoors and all that nature has to offer you are able to compete against other fanciers. The hobby provides a peaceful escape after a long day at work. Not only does this hobby provide youth with a positive avenue for a pass time but it is also helpful in teaching many life skills!

50 famous pigeon fanciers

The humble pigeon has attracted some very famous fans over the last few thousand years ranging from Royalty, rock and roll singers, actors and fashion designers.

1. Noah 2. King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II – The royal lofts are still being maintained today with Golden Jubilee One Loft Race and a website ( The Queen still has lofts and pigeon keepers at her estate in Sandringham, Norfolk) 3. Elvis Presley had a soft spot for pigeons 4. Mike Tyson is also an enthusiastic pigeon keeper 5. Maurizzo Gucci the internationally renowned fashion designer is a keen pigeon fancier spending a reputed $10,000 on one American pigeon. 6. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward 7. Roy Rogers – his pigeons may have helped inspire “Happy Trails” 8. Ray Price – country singer; still maintains birds in East Texas 9. Terry Bradshaw – Champion quarter back, four times in Super Bowl for Pittsburgh Steelers. Now a Sports Commentator. 10. Marlon Brando – actor 11. Yul Bryner – actor: kept several fancy breeds including Oriental Rollers at his home in France. 12. Tony Curtis – actor 13. Charles Darwin – Scientist and author who kept all kinds of breeds. 14. Andy Devine – actor, in the same racing pigeon club as Roy Rogers. 15. Walt Disney – Famous for his “white” birds. The lofts are still maintained at Disneyland in Southern California (Anaheim) and the birds are still flown & displayed. 16. George Foreman – World Heavyweight Boxing Champion was very interested in racing pigeons and did get some from George Girdler in Texas. 17. Willi Brandt – former German Chancellor, was a keen pigeon fancier. 18. Marvelous Marvin Hagler – World Boxing Champion 19. Michael Landon – actor, produced and starred in the movie “Where Pigeons Go to Die” 20. Alan Jordaan – Manager of the South African Cricket Team; Racing Homers. 21. Irene Brown – who keeps Homers and Danzig Highfliers. She’s famous for her studies upon pigeons; Cornell University, NY, USA. 22. Lee Marvin – actor 23. Claude Monet – artist 24. Wayne Newton – actor, or as he is called in Las Vegas, ‘ Mr Las Vegas’. A famous American entertainer that had pigeons as a boy. He had homers, rollers, tumblers and high flyers. 25. Pablo Picasso – artist who kept Fantails. Picasso loved pigeons so much that he named his daughter Paloma, which means pigeon in Spanish. Picasso’s father also kept pigeons and specialized in painting the same. 26. Johnny Otis – jazz and blues musician of California. 27. Clint Eastwood – actor 28. Scott Baio – actor, played in TV Show ‘Happy Days’ and many others over the years. He had flying Flights in Brooklyn with his dad.

29. Bles Bridges – the most well-known Afrikaans singer in South Africa owned some great Stichelbauts (Racing Homers). 30. Nicola Tesla – American electricity pioneer. He was kicked out of a few high-end Hotels for that, he would bring in injured birds and try to rehab them in the room. 31. Jimmy Smits – actor, US TV show NYPD Blues. He is also reputed to have narrated the second video on pigeons produced by Jenner “our oldest feathered friend”. He made an appearance at the NPA National this year. Racing Homers is his game. 32. Sir Gordon Richards – British flat racing Champion Jockey 26 times. 33. Bill Lawry – Australian cricket captain and one of the world’s top cricket commentators still races his birds in Victoria, Australia 34. Bob Guilteon – a Davis cup tennis player. His birds were sought world-wide, and bred the champion bird of Taiwan a couple of years ago 35. The King of Belgium – and his family 36. Andy Capp – famous cartoon character 37. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Consort of Queen Juliana and father of Queen Beatrix. Prince Bernhard had his own loft with pigeons which were raced during the season and also very often showed up at racing pigeon shows. The loft had a special proprietary card with a little crown on it which showed that that was a pigeon from the royal loft; these were often sold on charity exhibitions in the Netherlands. 38. Prof Herbst – A racehorse owner, won the biggest and most prestigious horse race in Africa (the Durban July) with his horse Classic Flag. 39. Dr Willard F Hollander – expert on the genetic make-up of pigeons. 40. Gerald Durrell – English naturalist and founder of the Jersey Wildlife Fund, who rescued the Pink pigeon from near extinction. 41. Jeff Fenech – (World Champion Boxer). Purchased Rollers from Sydney Performing Roller Club 42. Virginia Graham – US talk show host years ago. 43. Karl Hagenbeck – who kept all kinds of breeds at his zoo in Hamburg, Germany. Hagenbeck was the first or among the first to do away with cages at his zoo, using moats instead. 44. Boet Troskie – Famous for the movie “The Gods Must Be Crazy” 45. Suleiman the Magnificent – who kept fancy breeds at his palace in Instanbul, Turkey. 46. Alexander Alexandrovich Romanova III – the Batiushka-Tsar of Russia kept his pigeons in a house like a small palace at Gatchina until his sad and surprising death in the Crimea in 1894. 47. Samuel Pepys – Diarist and one of the most important naval administrators in England’s history. 48. Senator Hilaire La Haye, Secretary to the Belgium Govt, he named his birds after prominent members of the Belgium Govt. 49. Gerry Francis – former QPR and England footballer, and keen pigeon fancier. 50. The Counts Orloff – of the early part of 20th Century Russia.

Facts about pigeons

1. How old are pigeons? Pigeons have lived alongside man for thousands of years with the first images of pigeons being found by archaeologists in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and dating back to 3000 BC. It was the Sumerians in Mesopotamia that first started to breed white doves from the wild pigeon that we see in our towns and cities today and this undoubtedly accounts for the amazing variety of colors that are found in the average flock of urban pigeons. To ancient peoples a white pigeon would have seemed miraculous and this explains why the bird was widely worshipped and considered to be sacred. Throughout human history the pigeon has adopted many roles ranging from symbols of gods and goddesses through to sacrificial victims, messengers, pets, food and even war heroes! 2. Biblical references The first biblical reference to the pigeon (or dove) was in the Old Testament of the Bible in the first millennium AC and was the story of Noah and the dove of peace. Later, in the New Testament, the pigeon was first mentioned during the baptism of Christ where the dove descended as the Holy Spirit, an image now used extensively in Christian art. These early biblical references have paved the way for the many different ways that the urban pigeon is viewed in modern societies worldwide. Perception of the pigeon through the centuries has changed from God to the devil and from hero to zero! 3. Pigeon poop – foul or fantastic? Although pigeon poo is seen as a major problem for property owners in the 21st Century, it was considered to be an invaluable resource in the 16th, 17th and 18th century in Europe. Pigeon poop was a highly prized fertilizer and considered to be far more potent than farmyard manure. So prized in fact that armed guards were stationed at the entrances to dovecotes (pigeon houses) to stop thieves stealing it! Not only this, but in England in the 16th century pigeon poop was the only known source of saltpeter, an essential ingredient of gunpowder and was considered a highly valued commodity as a result. In Iran, where eating pigeon flesh was forbidden, dovecotes were set up and used simply as a source of fertilizer for melon crops and in France and Italy it was used to fertilize vineyards and hemp crops. 4. The pigeon as a war hero In modern times the feral pigeon has been used to great effect during wartime. In both the first and second World Wars the pigeon saved hundreds of thousands of human lives by carrying messages across enemy lines. Pigeons were carried on ships in convoys and in the event of a U- boat attack a messenger pigeon was released with details of the location of the sinking ship. In many cases this lead to the survivors being rescued and lives saved. Mobile pigeon lofts were set up behind the trenches in the First World War from which pigeons often had to fly through enemy fire and poison gas to get their messages home. The birds played a vital role in intelligence gathering and were used extensively behind enemy lines where the survival rate was only 10%. In the Second World War pigeons were used less due to advances in

8 telecommunications, but the birds relayed invaluable information back to the allies about the German V1 and V2 Rocket sites on the other side of the Channel. 5. The pigeon as a messenger The earliest large scale communication network using pigeons as messengers was established in Syria and Persia about 5th Century BC. Much later in the 12th Century AD the city of Baghdad and all the main towns and cities in Syria and Egypt were linked by messages carried by pigeons. This was the sole source of communication. In Roman times the pigeon was used to carry results of sporting events such as the Olympic Games and this is why white doves are released at the start of the Olympic Games today. In England, prior to the days of telegraphs, pigeons were often taken to soccer matches and released to carry home the result of the game. Their use as a messenger in war time resulted in many pigeons being awarded honors by both the British and French Governments. Incredibly, the last ‘pigeon post’ service was abandoned in India in 2004 with the birds being retired to live out the rest of their days in peace. 6. The religious significance of the pigeon Many religious groups including Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs feed pigeons for religious reasons. Many older Sikhs feed pigeons ceremoniously to honor the high priest and warrior Guru Gobind Singh who was a known friend of the pigeon (or rock dove). Some Sikhs also feed pigeons because they believe that when they are reincarnated they will never go hungry if they have fed pigeons in their previous life. Other religious groups in India believe that when a person dies his or her soul assumes the form of a bird (normally a pigeon) and therefore by feeding birds they are caring for the souls of their departed ancestors. The pigeon is revered in India with huge flocks numbering many thousands of birds being fed daily at Hindu temples in town and city centers throughout the country. In both eastern and western societies many of the most entrenched pigeon-related problems in urban areas are considered to be caused, certainly in part, by religious feeding of the birds. In the Christian religion the pigeon is both a symbol of peace and of the Holy Spirit. 7. Pigeons in Wall Street One of the richest and most famous families in the world amassed its wealth, certainly in part, as a result of exploiting the pigeon. In the early 1800’s the Rothschild family set up a network of pigeon lofts throughout Europe and used homing pigeons to carry information between its financial houses. This method proved to be quicker and more efficient than any other means of communication available at the time. The speed of the service combined with the ability to send and receive information ahead of the competition helped the Rothschild family amass a fortune which still exists today. 8. Mating habits of the pigeon Pigeons mate for life and take an equal role in raising young. The eggs take 18/19 days to hatch with both parents incubating the eggs. Young dependent pigeons are commonly known as ‘squabs’. Both parents feed the young with a special ‘pigeon milk’ that is regurgitated and fed to the squabs. Each squab can double its birth weight in one day but it takes 4 days for the eyes to open. When squabs are hungry they ‘squeak’ whilst flapping their wings and as a result they are

9 also commonly known as ‘squeakers’. At approximately 2 months of age the young are ready to fledge and leave the nest. This much longer than average time spent in the nest ensures that life expectancy of a juvenile pigeon is far greater than that of other fledglings. 9. Pigeons are big business We normally think of the pigeon as being an unwelcome guest in our towns and cities but most of us are unaware that racing pigeons can be worth huge sums of money. One racing pigeon recently sold for a staggering $132,517.00! The 3-year old bird was a champion racer beating 21,000 other pigeons in one long distance race. For this reason he was bought by one British company that breeds racing pigeons for ‘stud’. One very happy pigeon! The previous record price for a pigeon was $73, 800.00. 10. Pigeons as lifesavers Although pigeons are one of the most intelligent of all the bird species man has found limited uses for the birds other than for the purposes of sport, food and as a message carrier. A team of navy researchers, however, has found that pigeons can be trained to save human lives at sea with high success rates. Project Sea Hunt has trained a number of pigeons to identify red or yellow life jackets when floating in the water. The pigeons were not only found to be more reliable than humans but they were also many times quicker than humans when it came to spotting survivors from a capsized or sinking boat. The pigeon can see color in the same way that humans do but they can also see ultra-violet, a part of the spectrum that humans cannot see, and this is one of the reasons they are so well adapted to lifesaving. 11. Are pigeons intelligent? Pigeons are considered to be one of the most intelligent birds on the planet with pigeons being able to undertake tasks previously thought to be the sole preserve of humans and primates. The pigeon has also been found to pass the ‘mirror test’ (being able to recognize its reflection in a mirror) and is one of only 6 species, and the only non-mammal, that has this ability. The pigeon can also recognize all 26 letters of the English language as well as being able to conceptualize. In scientific tests pigeons have been found to be able to differentiate between photographs and even differentiate between two different human beings in a photograph when rewarded with food for doing so.

 Housing

The pigeon loft Houses for pigeons are generally called lofts. There are as many different kinds of enclosures used to house pigeons in as there are pigeon fanciers. There are no real constraints on the design of housing for pigeons but there are some things that most fanciers find desirable. The pigeon loft is the most important piece of equipment to a pigeon fancier since it houses the individual’s prized birds. The following are some things that need to be considered when building a pigeon loft:  Ventilation: This is an extremely critical area. A pigeon’s lungs are connected to air sacs which go throughout their body and even into their bones. Anything a pigeon breathes will greatly affect it. Birds that live in a poorly ventilated loft will see a decrease in performance. Ideally, air should enter from the floor and exit at the top. You do not want a breeze blowing through the loft at the other extreme. Fresh air should enter the loft and the floor should remain as dry as possible.  Build two pens: Allows the pigeon fancier to separate males from females to control breeding.  Overcrowding: Simply don’t do it. Many people have had their best flying season ever after a major smash in training leaving them with only 1/3 of their team. The fewer birds you have the less disease you will have and the easier and cheaper it is to take care of them. You should be like the marines “you only want a few good men.” Overcrowding can also lead to fighting and restlessness. One can keep 32 birds in an 8 foot X 8 foot loft. 2 square feet of room per pigeon is the minimum standard.  Droppings: Cleaning the loft regularly will not only decrease the likelihood of odours forming but it will also keep the birds happy and healthy!  Temperature/Noise control: Closing up the pigeon loft at night and on cold days, especially during the flying season is critical to top performance. Moreover, closing up the loft will help to decrease unwanted noise from escaping the pigeon loft.  Security in the pigeon loft: The basic reason of providing lofts to pigeons is to make them feel secure. Security of pigeon should be your main consideration while building pigeon lofts. It should be protected from the predators, noise, fumes and other disturbances so that the pigeon can feel secure.  Sunlight in pigeon loft: It is significant to have direct sunlight in your pigeon’s loft because sunlight provides vitamin D to pigeons and that is essential for bone, feather and reproductive health of your pigeon.  Loft position: It should be positioned in such a direction so that it can get maximum sunlight. It should be positioned away from trees if possible.  Nest Boxes: provide mated pairs with nest boxes in which to build their nests. Because pigeons are quite territorial about their nesting area pigeons co-exist much more harmoniously when each mated pair has two nest boxes of its own.  Perches: provide more perches than the birds need. Because pigeons are also quite territorial about their perch it is best to ensure that every pigeon in the loft has lots of places to perch.

 Choosing your birds

When first getting into pigeons it is always wise to get birds from a pigeon fancier that is respected for using ethical practices and has also been successful competitively. This will accomplish two goals. Firstly, you will know that the pigeons have been cared for humanely. Secondly, if you are getting pigeons from a fancier that has won competitions or won races you will know that the birds you are about to receive may also be of high quality. The goal is to aim for quality over quantity. Starting off with premium stock in the beginning will limit the number of unwanted birds in the long run thus helping to control the pet population.  Feeding your birds

Perhaps the most important aspect surrounding feeding your pigeons is cleanliness and hygiene. If a high quality diet is administered to the pigeons the chances of them becoming sick or weak are eliminated. Follow these steps for proper feeding practices:

1. Firstly, a sturdy feeder is needed from which the birds will eat. 2. Only buy closed bags of feed. This will limit any contamination by humans or animals. 3. Buy high quality feed so that the birds remain in strong health. 4. Store the feed properly. Use aluminum bins to store the feed in so that they are safe from dampness, dust, temperature fluctuations, wild birds, and rodents. 5. Keep a record of how much feed you are giving the pigeons. If the next day there is still feed from the previous day left over in the feeder then adjust the amount of food they are receiving accordingly. 6. Do not leave food out in the open. 7. Change the drinking water every day. If possible change it twice a day. 8. Add liquid vitamins and minerals to the water on a set schedule. 9. Provide your pigeons with grit in order to help them digest their food. 10. Provide breeding pigeons crushed oyster shell as it is an excellent source of calcium. 11. Only feed them inside the pigeon loft. 12. Observe the pigeons eating habits.

 Breeding practices

Breeding pigeons for the purpose of sale and making money is not encouraged. The main goal behind breeding pigeons should be competitions or improving the breed. Whether it is fancy breeds, racing pigeons, or performance pigeons like high fliers and rollers – the main objective should be to breed a higher quality bird.

For the most part, pigeon fanciers generally pair their pigeons up around Valentine’s Day – February 14th. After this, the pair of pigeons is allowed to raise three sets of youngsters. The pair lay two eggs which both parents take turns in incubating. After an approximately 18 day incubation period the babies hatch. From the day they hatch it takes them 30-35 days in order to be fully weaned and eating on their own. At this point the baby pigeons are ready to begin their training towards becoming a champion!

Controlled Breeding

After a pigeon fancier has bred enough young birds for his team they will be encouraged to stop breeding. There are several ways on how to get pigeons to stop breeding. The first method is to simply separate the parents. Housing male and female birds separately will avoid any unwanted breeding from occurring. The second option is to allow the birds to live together and when they lay eggs, simply replace the eggs with dummy eggs. Dummy eggs are available for purchase online from many pigeon supply stores. They are plastic or wooden and mimic the real pigeon eggs. The birds will sit on the dummy eggs for three weeks but no babies will hatch.

Pigeons molt every fall and grow new feathers where the old ones once were. Allowing the pigeons time off from breeding gives them enough energy to focus on their molt. All the nutrients from the food they eat will be focussed on new plumage and not on raising babies. You will always have happy birds if you follow these steps!

 Training your pigeons

Having a strong relationship with your pigeons is extremely beneficial. If a pigeon fancier spends many hours in the pigeon loft every week then his birds begin to trust the fancier more and do not become stressed when the loft is entered. As a result, they are at ease when you are in the loft and do not panic and fly around. Operant conditioning from psychology is greatly used when training your pigeons! Like any other pet being consistent in the training of your pigeons provides the best results. Follow these steps in order to successfully train your birds:

1. Make a food call every time you feed your pigeon. This can either be shaking a can of seeds or whistling to signal eating time. The birds quickly associate the noise towards food and become aware of what needs to be done in order to receive the food. 2. Trap train your birds. A trap is a one-way entrance to the loft through which the pigeons learn to enter the loft and eat the food on the inside. As youngsters, they are trained to enter this trap. The pigeon fancier sounds the feeding call and they realize they need to go through this trap in order to be fed. Below is an example of a pigeon trap that is built into the pigeon loft. They can push the aluminum bobs and enter the loft but when they try going back outside the bobs get caught and they are unable to leave the loft.

Using this two-step system is very successful in controlling your pigeons. The feed call helps to bring them back inside the loft and once they go through the trap food is available to them and they find a perch to sit on. 15

3. Ensure that the airspace above your loft is clear of any obstructions. Trim back tree branches if needed and remove any objects that may create any problems. Ensure your pigeons have a safe landing area and have the room to take off when flying. 4. Always have a couple of “dropper” pigeons on hand. These birds do not have a great flying ability but are instead helpful in ushering your birds inside of the loft. They are well trained birds that know the two-step process of the feed call and trapping very well. Droppers are helpful in training young and new pigeons. 5. Keep birds off the ground and garden. Have them trained so well that they only land on the pigeon loft. Even better is to have them trained to directly land on the landing board and enter the loft. 6. Individuals who keep the highflying pigeon breeds including but not limited to: Tipplers, Indian Highfliers, and Pakistani Highfliers have great success in using a “shatri”. Translated from Punjabi to English it literally means umbrella. It is a base 10-12 feet long that is propped up into the air. From the days of being youngsters, the pigeons are trained to sit and land on this aerial base. This base is only a 2 feet X 2 feet square. Usually this base is wrapped in a bright coloured cloth in order to help the pigeons recognize it when they are flying over 300-1000 feet in the air!

In over 12 years of using the “shatri” I rarely had a pigeon sit on my roof, let alone the neighbour’s roof. They always came and landed straight on the shatri! Once landing on the shatri they went straight into the pigeon loft.

Are humans at risk for disease from pigeons?

The most widespread misconception about pigeons is that they are carriers of disease. Are humans at risk for disease from racing pigeons? Are the neighbours of a pigeon fancier in any danger from the birds kept in the loft next door? These questions have been exhaustively researched by experts. Their finding is that neither show, performance, or racing pigeons pose any health risk to humans greater than the risk of keeping dogs, cats, turtles, hamsters, exotic birds or any other living pet. Zoonosis: This is not a Dr. Spock character. This is the term for animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Rabies, salmonella, toxoplasmosis and streptococcus are a few of the diseases man can get from animals. Rabies comes from raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats and dogs. Salmonella can come from chicken eggs and turtles. Toxoplasmosis is found in cat feces and Streptococcus can be carried in a dog's throat. In addition, roundworms are transmitted to humans by contact with dog, horse, cow and cat feces. Ticks can cause Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Fever. None of these diseases are caused by pigeons. This is because pigeons have no common vector with humans. Parasites are vectors. Pigeon parasites cannot and do not live on or in humans, and vice versa. One reason is that pigeons have a body temperature of 107 degrees. Their parasites cannot live at our cool 98.6 degrees. Dogs and cats, on the other hand, have temperatures of 101.5 to 102. This is within the range of human temperature and each can, to some degree, accommodate the vectors of the other.

Common misconceptions surrounding pigeons The keeping of domestic racing or fancy pigeons, a hobby enjoyed by thousands of Canadians, is occasionally challenged because of false and misleading information related to the common feral pigeon which populates nearly every city park. Common or feral pigeons bear the same relationship to domestic racing and fancy pigeons as wild mustangs bear to the thoroughbred racehorses. Registered racing and fancy pigeons are kept in specially built and equipped lofts. Fancy pigeon are seldom; if ever let out of their lofts. Racing pigeons, also known as homing pigeons, are kept inside their lofts by fanciers except when they are on training flights or competing in races. In either case, they are on a strict routine. They do not "laze" about on buildings or neighbour's homes, as the common, unbanded feral pigeon do.

By today's standards, pigeons are neither fowl nor poultry. According to Steadman's Medical dictionary, fowl are galliformes, such as chickens, guineas, quail, peafowl, pheasants and turkeys. Ducks and geese are in a family called anseriformes, which are water fowl. Poultry refers to birds that are raised to provide meat and eggs for human consumption. Fancy, performance, and racing pigeons are not raised for neither, but for exhibition, hobby and sport. Pedigreed racing pigeons are generally considered too small a species to be raised for table use. Pigeons are in a family called Columbiformes. They are monogamous, mate for life, and both parents care for the young. Both males and females produce “milk” in their crops for feeding their young. Young pigeons are fed in the nest until about one month of age, at which time they can fend for themselves. The offspring of fowl can scratch forage and feed themselves almost from the instant of birth.

 Pigeon assisted therapy & learning

This was a 4th year level essay I wrote while attending the University of the Fraser Valley.

The paper was written for Brian Foote’s Criminal Justice 418 course which focussed on crime prevention strategies. Brian Foote is a retired police officer who has extensive experience and knowledge in the crime prevention field and was influential in many of the improvements made in the cities of Mission and Chilliwack.

This research essay received a final grade of A+, 30/30.

“Crime prevention through social development: An Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) approach to reducing crime”

Criminal Justice 418

Crime Prevention

Dr. Brian Foote

University of the Fraser Valley

Gurbir Brar

Student #: 300100604

The world as we know it has constantly evolved due to new discoveries and society as a whole has adapted to the changing landscape of our environment. However, understanding criminal behavior and why it occurs has constantly intrigued researchers and criminological theorists. As a result, many theories have been developed that attempt to explain why crime occurs and how to prevent it. Some proposed theories have been static in the sense that they focus on the individual and exemplified individual differences people have that make them more likely to commit crime whereas some theories are more dynamic in nature and attempted to explain why crime occurs in the first place (Farrington, 2005). Consequently, many crime prevention strategies have emerged to decrease, limit, or prevent crime.

The government has often favoured law enforcement strategies since they can often provide quick effective results (Bruce & Gould, 2009). However, crime prevention through social development initiatives have shown to be more effective than situational crime prevention strategies since the effects of responses can be significantly longer and directed towards the root causes of crime rather than dealing with problems after they arise (Schneider, 2015). As a result, crime prevention through social development has been used to address many problems in our society. We have been attempting to prevent crime however it can be more effective to focus on the underlying issues that are contributing to the criminal behavior. The lack of school completion over the past decade has shown to be one of the most significant factors that have increased criminality in our communities (Henry, Knight, & Thornberry, 2012). However, the lack of school completion can also be impacted by a variety of factors. Mental health, substance abuse, and sexual abuse have been identified as some of the most significant problems that inhibit performance at school and consequently discontinuation (Henry, Knight, & Thornberry,

2012). Thankfully, a social development focussed intervention called Animal Assisted Therapy

(AAT) has shown promising results in becoming a potential solution to this critical problem.

The use of animals to assist in therapy and learning in order to achieve a higher school completion rate among youth is supported by various research that has been done and the stories of successful cases where animals have enriched the learning environment. This report highlights the key academic literature supporting this initiative and a proposal to implement a school based program which will utilize the homing pigeon as the primary animal to promote learning and therapy.

Firstly, it is important to note that crime itself is an extremely complex natured phenomenon that can vary greatly from one situation to another. Under some circumstances, the root cause of crime can also be influenced by more than one contributing factor (Heidt &

Wheeldon, 2015). However, attending school has shown to be a protective factor from committing crime for many youth by developing self-control and the self-regulation of emotions in a positive environment (Henry, Caspi, Moffitt, Harinngton, & Silva, 1999). Nonetheless, our school system has become designed to cater to the students that are not presented with any learning difficulties. The underlying problems that at-risk youth may go unaddressed and these problems can manifest into greater issues over a prolonged period of time. As a result, students can become at-risk for criminal involvement due to a lack of interest in education, absenteeism at school, dropping out of school entirely, or indulging in non-proactive activities like drug use and excessive alcohol consumption (Cuellar, 2015). Large scale studies have shown that high school graduation is a more effective crime reduction strategy rather than increasing the length of sentences and incarceration (Fella & Gallipoli, 2014). Similarly, it has been argued that intervention should focus less on the individual students’ symptoms but more on encouraging and empowering them to improve their overall functioning and commitment to academic

21 achievements through a supportive and positive environment (Cuellar, 2015). As a result, it is critical for intervention strategies to target the most at-risk of becoming criminally involved due to the underlying factors that may hold them back from graduating and pursuing post-secondary education. Evidently, early intervention needs to occur in the school curriculum so that proper attention can be given to the needs of at-risk students.

Ground-breaking research has shown that the use of animal assisted therapy and learning practices can revitalize the bond between youth and school and consequently encourage the completion of education. There is no doubt that the motive behind raising animals has changed over history for a majority of people. For the average person, animals serve as companions and are no longer used for labour services and food production. However, from ancient times and in cultures worldwide, animals have been respected as essential partners in human survival, health, and healing (Serpell, 2006). For this reason, it is surprising to realize that more attempts are not made to interconnect humans and the involvement of animals to improve the learning outcomes of students. In simple terms, Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is designed to improve the participant’s physical, social, emotional, or cognitive functioning (Charnetsky, Riggers, &

Brennan, 2004). AAT can be described as a goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process (Chitic, Rusu, & Szamoskozi,

2012). Similarly, Animal Assisted Education (AAE) is also a goal oriented intervention but the aim is to educate the participant on certain functions and aspects (Chitic, Rusu, & Szamoskozi,

2012). There have been a number of successful interventions involving animals that have produced positive results in resolving mental health setbacks, substance abuse cases, and sexual and physical abuse trauma all of whom can become significant contributors to a lack of school completion.

Mental health can be a significant barrier in completing school for some students.

Involving animals in the process of learning has been found to be effective in activating interest and connection with core subject material that cannot be achieved using more traditional methods. Treatment interventions that involve the assistance of an animal result in statistically significant health benefits which include improvements in blood pressure and heart rate

(Morrison, 2007). The stimulation that animals provide can be greatly beneficial for students that are impacted by a learning disability. In particular, the implementation of AAT has shown significant results in improving social skills and decreasing social withdrawal behavior in autistic children (O’Haire, Mckenzie, McCune, & Slaughter, 2014). The intervention has been able to encourage the participants into becoming more aware and comfortable about their actions.

Similarly, it was found in a study done on children with schizophrenia that the physical connection the students had with animals assisted them in stabilizing and regulating emotions more efficiently (Chu, Liu, Sun, & Lin, 2009). The self-control theory highlights that individuals with low self-control are more likely to participate in criminal behavior (Gottfredson

& Hirschi, 1990). However, research has shown that interactions with animals can also increase neurochemicals associated with relaxation and bonding and they can help to improve the overall functioning of the human immune system (Charnetsky, Riggers, & Brennan, 2004). The calmness and relaxation achieved through AAT and AAE practices can greatly benefit individuals in developing better self-control coping mechanisms that are effective.

Similarly, research has shown that individuals that are cruel to animals are much more likely to be violent people later in life (Petersen & Farrington, 2007). One study found that cruelty to animals can be a significant predictor of future violent behavior (Evans & Gray, 2012).

Research conducted has strengthened the connection between alleviating cruelty to animals and

23 the consequent violent behaviors later on in life by introducing healthy deviant child and pet interactions during early interventions (Dadds, Turner, & McAloon, 2002). By involving animals in the treatment and learning process, children would receive the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in caring, affection, and compassion for other living beings.

Secondly, statistics suggest drugs and crime lead millions of people to the correctional environment, many of whom become involved in the never-ending cycle of addictive and criminal behaviors (Newcomb, Galatf, & Carmona, 2001). Research suggests that low self- esteem can often lead to substance abuse issues (Khajehdaluee, Zavar, Alidoust, & Pourandi,

2013). Adversity in a teenager’s life including but not limited to neglected parenting and bullying increase the vulnerability of becoming addicted (Stanis & Andersen, 2014). Moreover, the addictions of many substance abusers have shown to begin in their adolescent years so it is important to provide intervention early at the school system level (Sharma, 2015).

It is important to note that animals can provide individuals battling substance abuse a safe, trusting, and positive relationship during their recovery process (Coetzee, Beukes, &

Lynch, 2013). This can be very important since the treatment and rehabilitation process of addictions can create considerable amounts of stress and pain. Research has illustrated that substance abuse treatment success can be increased if addictions professionals incorporated the use of AAT in the treatment process (Wesley, Minatrea, & Watson, 2009). Although the use of

AAT may not play a direct role in the treatment process, it can function as an extremely complementary intervention strategy and provide assistance. One study which focussed on First

Nations youth and substance abuse problems recognized that the horse – which is culturally significant to some First Nations – has become a potential means to assist youth in reconnecting with their inner spirit, communities and culture and tackling substance abuse and alcohol

24 problems (Chalmers & Dell, 2011).

Likewise, research on abuse suggests that children with a history of sexual or physical abuse have issues in creating meaningful connections with people, places, and practices. Many children often internalize self-blame and guilt causing them to feel responsible for the abuse they have experienced (Reichert, 1994). Abusive experiences can make it difficult for children to commit themselves in becoming involved in school activities and attached to their education.

Moreover, it has been identified that a lack of social bonds can be a result of poor socialization and poor parenting practices (Skrzypiec, 2013). Hirschi’s social bond theory highlights that individuals are more prone to commit crime when they have weakened bonds with society including low involvement, attachment, commitment, and belief (Heidt & Wheeldon, 2015).

However, socializing may not occur frequently in dysfunctional families and as a result it should be the responsibility of society and the school system in particular to make up for any shortcomings the family dynamic does not provide a student. AAT and AAE provide students with an opportunity to strengthen these social bonds with the help of non-judgemental and neutral partners in animals.

However, the primary goals of using animal therapy with abused children is to bridge the communication gap, decrease anxiety and tension that is associated with the memories of abuse, lower physiological arousal, and promote social interaction (Lefkowitz, Pahario, Prout, Debiak,

& Bleilberg, 2005). The ultimate aim is to provide students with an equal and fair opportunity to improve their personal well-being. Moreover, studies have found that children are more likely to feel relaxed and experience comfort in disclosing information regarding their traumatic experiences when an animal present (Reichert, 1998). This can help service providers and treatment professionals in providing a more individualized treatment and education program that

25 fits the individual needs of students.

Moreover, one study found that participants reported a significant increase in self-esteem and a significant decrease in depression when animals were introduced (Walsh & Mertin, 1994).

Their ability to better the life of another living being gives them an improved sense of self- esteem and self-worth (Fournier, Geller, & Fortney (2007). In fact, one of the strongest areas of research states that the relationship between an individual and an animal is more effective than that of a spouse or friend in eliminating the cardiovascular effects of stress (Allen, Blascovich, &

Mendes, 2002). The responsibility of caring for an animal not only provides important and meaningful connection but has also shown to decrease the likelihood of individuals participating in violence themselves (Turner, 2007). Research on AAT has also illustrated that animals can provide comic relief during sessions and increase feelings of safety in a group both of which can greatly benefit children that are participating in treatment (Lange, Cox, Bernert, & Jenkins,

2006).

Racing Pigeon Animal Assisted Therapy Program

Extensive evidence illustrates that animals can act as social catalysts through their presence and attributes by stimulating conversation and personal growth. Individuals become more motivated to attend sessions when animals are involved (Lange, Cox, Bernert, & Jenkins,

2006). In fact, some parents of children participating in an AAT program identified that the overall interest in attending school increased greatly (O’Haire et al., 2014). Most AAT and AAE initiatives have primarily involved the use of dogs and horses in treatment and education processes. However, it needs to be recognized that using dogs and horses is simply not plausible in some scenarios due to the maintenance costs and demand for greater resources. However, an excellent alternative is the homing pigeon or racing pigeon since they are hardy animals, cost

26 effective and low maintenance animals (Webber, 2011). In contrast, they have proven to benefit many at-risk youth in a number of ways. The intended audience for this intervention will include schools incorporating an AAT or AAE program into their curriculum directed towards at-risk youth that have been identified to have mental health, substance abuse, or sexual abuse issues in their lives. Forming partnerships with community organizations and local businesses will be important in attaining funding and resources to build the pigeon housing structures and the limited amount of supplies that are needed to raise, breed, train, and race homing pigeons.

Homing pigeons have been effective in a number of cases in assisting school aged at-risk children in becoming more connected to school. A fourth grade student that refused to do her homework under any circumstances began to eagerly complete her work after she formed a strong connection with her pigeon and would not be allowed to interact and play with her bird until her work was completed (Gould, 2013). It can be argued that animals provide individuals with an external positive aspect in their life that can garner their attention towards becoming more self-aware and productive (Coetzee, Beukes, & Lynch, 2013). In one case, ex-gang member Bobby Wilson has started a gang prevention program using pigeons to promote proactive behavior. Over 20 youth have been able to connect with him and are staying away from the gang life in California and putting effort towards an extremely positive activity

(Hartman, 2010). Similarly, other interventions that have used pigeons within learning institutions have garnered positive results. At Eagle High School in Washington State, students are meeting their educational requirement using hands-on interactions with the birds through a new class called ornithology which is the study of birds (ARPU, 2015). They are taught responsibility, character education, caring, and compassion all of which can often be excluded in the formal education curriculum. Similarly, the racing pigeon project at Eleanor Roosevelt

Community Learning Center has shown many positive results including increased interest in education and commitment to their studies among the youth (ARPU, 2015). These real life case examples of homing pigeons working to assist in learning highlight that success is possible using this intervention.

The goal of using the homing pigeons as an AAT or AAE intervention program is to use the assistance of the pigeons in assisting in the therapy of at-risk youth but also to spark curiosity and interest in the youth so they become more productive students. The short term outcomes of this intervention would be an increased interest among the youth for their studies. It is hoped that the unique ability of the homing pigeon to return back home after being released hundreds of kilometers away will encourage the students to find out more and consequently improve their attendance rates. Moreover, the short term goals would be to encourage the students to become more aware and open about themselves and begin to contribute to the goals of the project. The youth will be taught how to care for and maintain the pigeons and their housing structure. This interaction between the youth and the pigeons will help to form a stronger bond and connection with education. The medium-term goals in this intervention would be to begin using the pigeons in teaching core subjects in school after the students have gained knowledge on how to raise the pigeons. Subjects such as math, science, geography, history, English, and nutrition and fitness could be taught to the students with the assistance of the pigeons. For example, students can study how fast the birds are arriving home using math and velocity and the genetic make-up and physical structure of the pigeons could be used in the study of science. Likewise, students would learn about geography since their birds would be flying over different terrain and the effects of tougher terrain could be examined. Pigeons have also been used for hundreds of years as messengers in history. Their use can be studied in order to allow students to gain a better

28 understanding of history. Essentially, students at this stage will be able to connect to their education and lessons using the pigeons as a tool to understand key concepts.

The long-term intended outcome would be that the students have been able to overcome their learning disabilities by using a more innovative method to learn. Similarly, their substance abuse and sexual abuse issues may also have been addressed by this point and the birds will have assisted in forming a strong bond that enables the youth to work on the underlying issues that have held them back in school more comfortably. However, there are some potential challenges that may arise in the implementation of this response. The implementation of an AAT program may cause staff members to believe there will be extra stress and work they may have to do

(Bibbo, 2013). As a result, it must be remind them that their duties will remain the same. The

AAT or AAE intervention would only be used as a complementary intervention within the student’s treatment or learning process. The goal should be to provide students with more support during a difficult period in their lives. However, staff members and educators that are interested in the project could be identified and willing individuals could connect the project into their class curriculum. As a result, those involved in the project would have already some genuine interest in the project. Similarly, the city by-laws may pose a risk. As it stands now, the city by-laws may list pigeons as agricultural livestock and consequently prohibit their housing in non-agricultural properties. However, since this project is intended for the purpose of greater good an exception should be made or an amendment of the entire section in the by-laws itself.

Evidently, there have been many positive results and impact influenced by animal assisted interventions. Animals possess unique characteristics which should make them an integral part of the treatment and learning process of students. A lack of school completion can greatly increase the likelihood of criminal behavior in the future so it is critical to focus on the

29 underlying problems that limit educational success for at-risk youth. Mental health, substance abuse, and sexual abuse have been identified as some of the key factors that can decrease the likelihood of completing school. However, the many positive benefits that AAT and AAE interventions provide have been identified through extensive research conducted. Without a doubt, there is some correlation between the involvement of animals and the success in treatments and education. In particular, the use of homing pigeons should be taken into consideration since they provide many economic and spatial benefits compared to more demanding animals. Using homing pigeons would also allow more flexibility in administering the response. Animals have a lot to offer to students and this needs to be recognized when providing social services. Greater emphasis should be placed in improving the rates of school completion. By addressing the needs of youth today we will be better prepared for the problems that arise tomorrow.

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“Flying to Success” Homing pigeons and learning

Although pigeons can have many therapeutic effects on a youth at-risk such as their unique ability to fly back home to you. This can greatly boost the youth’s self-esteem. A youth’s self-confidence can greatly improve if their pigeons that were entered into a race happen to win. Seeing successful results can provide them with a positive outlook and increased sense of responsibility. Moreover, the noises pigeons can make provide a soothing and relaxing feeling which can help to drive down anxiety and decrease blood pressure.

However, the homing ability of the pigeon can be harnessed to significantly increase the interest in school children have. By using pigeons, over a dozen core school subjects can be taught to children. It is important to recognize that not every child learns best using the traditional book method. Some children learn much better using a more hands on approach. For children that have a hands-on learning style, the pigeons can provide them with the assistance they need in learning some very valuable information.

Benefits of using pigeons:

• Stimulation can assist students dealing with learning disabilities

• Development of social skills

• Boost self-esteem & self-confidence

• Assist in stabilizing emotions (animals help lower anxiety)

• Calmness/relaxation achieved by working with animals

• Decrease in depression

• Create a proactive, positive and non-judgemental learning environment

• Students will enter their birds into races and have a chance to compete against 25-30 veteran pigeon fanciers

• Applied learning can benefit some individuals

The program would be most successful with elementary and middle school aged children. There would be entire an entire curriculum: handouts, workbooks, individual and group activities, and extra-curricular activities. The program would be designed to provide a complete learning experience.

“Flying to Success” Program Subject Areas

The following is a list of all of the school subjects that can be taught to school aged children using pigeons:

1. Science – Learn about ornithology, genetics, breeding, etc.

2. Math – Calculating velocity, measuring pigeon feed, etc.

3. English – Writing Skills (sending letters to veteran pigeon fanciers for advice, tips, appreciation). All written notes and inquiries during the management of the pigeon loft.

4. History – Use of pigeons in wars and in history as messengers and spies. Students will get a number of opportunities to use pigeons to send each other messages in order to mimic the experience.

5. Technology – Working on computers, websites, research, power point presentations, GPS, using electronic pigeon clocks

6. Art – Use of artwork on pigeon lofts, crates, other supplies

7. Nutrition & Health – Learn what it takes to produce a competitive pigeon. Different seeds provide different benefits. Students will learn when to feed what seeds. Students will learn about the need for different diets between breeding pigeons and flying pigeons.

8. Carpentry – Building and constructing lofts, nest boxes, perches, crates, etc.

9. Data Collection & Management – Keeping feeding, breeding, and training records on the pigeons. Students will also use the data to make decisions.

10. Character development – Building a positive attitude and caring nature.

11. Interpersonal skills – Presentations on pigeons to other individuals, working with other students, working with teachers and veteran pigeon fanciers.

12. Responsibility – Feeding and watering, caring for the birds, cleaning the lofts, etc.

13. Leadership skills – teaching other students (peer mentoring), running meetings, organizing a youth club (youth board of directors)

14. Pigeon racing as an extra-curricular activity

***ALL COSTS OF THE PROGRAM WOULD BE FREE***

Young Wings Program Jim Jenner

Stopped along the side of Highway 1 past Georgetown Lake, Jim Jenner, 60, scribbled his message to the kids back at Philipsburg Elementary School. Jenner folded the carbon paper into blue capsules and tied them onto each of two homing pigeons. The birds bolted west into the stiff wind and light rain. Pigeons are the focal point of “Young Wings,” an after-school program introduced a year ago by Jenner and Philipsburg Superintendent Mike Cutler. By the time Jenner parked in the playground field, the pigeons had returned to the loft. Third-grader C. Metesh, 8, and second-grader Jerritt Messer, 7, waited inside. “Hi, Richard,” they greeted him. Students handle, examine and learn about pigeons in “Young Wings.” They send messages and witness firsthand how the creatures react to their own behavior. The project is, on one end, inspired by Jenner’s own 50-year passion for pigeons, and Richard Louv’s 2005 bestselling book, “Last Child in the Woods,” on the other. Louv’s work coins the term “nature deficit disorder,” and describes how disconnection from the outdoors is linked to childhood trends such as depression, obesity and attention difficulties, according to his website. Combined, Jenner said he hopes to model a method by which parents and educators may battle “nature deficit disorder” and reintroduce kids to the outdoors. “Children today are so connected to technology, and their disconnection from nature is having an effect on their personalities,” he said. “You’re kind of a cold-blooded person if you think life is simply a video game.” “There’s some magic there, when you take a pigeon and put it in the hands of a young person,” he said.

Wings spread in the classroom

The Montana Standard George Plaven, Reporter

Kids typically get outside when studying their pigeons, but an early May snowstorm forced them all back to the classroom. Jenner, Metesh and Messer carefully gathered two still- flightless baby birds from the loft to bring with them, resting them in a plastic bowl filled with wood chips. Excitement and fascination carried the rest of the afternoon, with the kids huddling in close for their turn to calmly stroke still-growing feathers. “I wish I could fly,” Metesh said. “Then, I’d just fly to school.” “I love pigeons!” said third-grader Sadie Leistiko, 9. “They’re my favorite!” Stopping by for a visit, Cutler stood toward the back and watched. Philipsburg schools brought on “Young Wings” following conversations he had with Jenner. The program now goes twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays. Students look forward to school when they might not otherwise, Cutler said. All the while, they are exposed to something other than a computer or television screen. “It’s hard to explain the relationships they forge with these birds,” he said. “Their behavior changes.” School can sometimes get boring, Leistiko said, but after school with the pigeons is a different story. “Holding the pigeons is just awesome,” she said. Up close, Jenner said he has also seen a change, particularly in the pride and confidence that comes with caring for a living thing. “In particular, when some of the more shy kids get a bird to eat out of their hand, there’s a lot of pride in that,” he said. In exchange for their cleaning, feeding and care, the pigeons can teach kids valuable life lessons that may otherwise be lacking, Jenner said. “They get to see a nuclear family, where both the mother and father take equal time to care for the babies,” he said. “When the birds went to lay eggs, we also went into a discussion about that.” Jenner hopes “Young Wings” will become part of the solution toward nature development disorder. “If we do not make an effort to have our children appreciate nature in all its forms, we are shortchanging them,” he said. “I think what we have brewing here in Philipsburg will continue to live on.”

Filmmaker Jim Jenner

 Introducing a pigeon licensing program

A responsible pet owner bylaw

Importance of having a licensing program

There would be many benefits from introducing a pigeon licensing program in Abbotsford.

• The system would become much more organized and managed better • Ensure the protection of animals • Ensure compliance of bylaws • Resources can be directed towards more serious issues • Reduce overall costs • Reduce the workload of City of Abbotsford Bylaw Officers • Reduce the working of CARE Animal Control Officers • Promote a hobby that is in decline whose only chance of survival is to go urban • Promote agricultural practices among youth and increase their knowledge • Generate revenue for the city (licensing fee) • Create a market for businesses (Feed stores start carrying pigeon feed – pet stores start carrying medications, vitamins, and supplements) • Create business for our veterinary clinic • Increase public involvement and improve cohesion by organizing community events

Structure of the program

In order for this licensing program to be successful there is a need for cooperation and coming to an understanding of who is responsible for what.

All parties that would be involved:

• City of Abbotsford (Bylaw) • CARE Centre (Animal Control) • BC SPCA • Abbotsford Pigeon Club (APC)

Process:

1. A new club is in the process of being created. “Abbotsford Pigeon Club” will be the only club whose members will be protected under the amended bylaws. 2. Pigeon fanciers may remain members of any other club: Canadian Pigeon Fanciers Association, Canadian Racing Pigeon Union, North Road Racing Pigeon Society, Vancouver Fancy Pigeon Association, Fraser Valley Tippler Club, etc. However, only those that will be members of Abbotsford Pigeon Club will have access to a license. The sole reason behind the creation of this club is to provide a governing body for pigeon fanciers that will be solely for the City of Abbotsford residents (help to create an organized system). 3. Upon seeking and receiving membership in Abbotsford Pigeon Club, members will be eligible to apply for a license with the City of Abbotsford. 4. Upon receiving a completed application, a bylaw officer will arrange an appointment with the pigeon fancier and come inspect the pigeon loft to see if it meets the standards set out. 5. If the standards are not met, the bylaw officer will recommend what changes need to occur. 6. If the standards are met, a license will be issued out. In order to limit the workload, licenses will be renewed annually. Renewals will have an expedited process whereas new licenses would go through the process from the beginning.

7. Bylaw officers will have the opportunity to come inspect any loft a pigeon fancier has by arranging an appointment. 8. The leadership group of the Abbotsford Pigeon Club will be responsible for ensuring pigeon fanciers are abiding by the laws that have been set out. A monthly inspection will be done in order to ensure all laws are being followed. 9. Any member of the Abbotsford Pigeon Club that is found to be breaking any rules will be issued a verbal warning the first time. If the problem persists, a written notice will be issued the second time. If the problem arises for a third time, a letter of membership termination will be issued to the pigeon fancier. A membership termination form will be forwarded to the City of Abbotsford Bylaw Department. 10. If a pigeon fancier has their Abbotsford Pigeon Club membership terminated, they will no longer be protected under the bylaw. They may still keep their pigeons but it will be up to the bylaw officers to determine whether they will allow it or not if a complaint is received from any neighbors. 11. Reapplying to the Abbotsford Pigeon Club may be possible with a status of “Probation” issued. Any pigeon fancier on probation will have bi-weekly inspections done by the Abbotsford Pigeon Club in order to monitor the situation better. 12. Abbotsford Pigeon Club will be required to remain an active affiliate of the Canadian Pigeon Fanciers Association (CPFA - the national organization).

The goal of having the Abbotsford Pigeon Club involved is to reduce the workload of city bylaw officers so they have the time and resources available to focus on other issues around the city. Abbotsford Pigeon Club will report to the Abbotsford bylaw officers.

Abbotsford Pigeon Club will not be lenient. We will all be pigeon fanciers as well. This bylaw amendment would be there to protect us as well so we would ensure all the rules are followed as a discontinuance of the licensing program would affect us all. In order to ensure pigeon fanciers know what is expected from them, a pigeon handbook will be provided to all Abbotsford Pigeon Club members in order to create awareness of the new laws.

Recommended rules, guidelines, and restrictions

The following is a set of rules that need to be followed in order to maintain your license. Some of these rules have been borrowed from other municipalities that allow pet pigeons under their bylaws and others are being recommended due to the uniqueness of Abbotsford.

1. Keeping of pigeons in the City of Abbotsford a) Every pigeon fancier seeking a license in Abbotsford must be a member of the Abbotsford Pigeon Club. b) Every pigeon fancier in Abbotsford must seek a license from the City of Abbotsford in order to become a registered and protected member. c) Every pigeon fancier must pay a yearly $120.00 licensing fee to the City of Abbotsford. Fees for the following year are due by December 31st of the current year. 2. Bird restrictions a) Pigeon fanciers will be allowed to raise a maximum of 25 adult birds on a 6,000 square foot lot (Same as Surrey’s bylaw). b) Each pigeon must be banded with a metal or plastic band issued by the CPFA or Canadian Racing Pigeon Union at 5-7 days of age. This is not only to ensure control over breeding but also to ensure the safety of the pigeons by having them registered in case they ever get lost. c) Adult pigeons that are too old to be banded with seamless bands must have a clip-on band on their leg. 3. The pigeon loft a) Ensure pigeons are not kept inside, upon, or under any building used for human habitation. b) A minimum of 2 square feet of space is required per pigeon. c) The pigeon loft must be at least 3 feet away from the property line. d) The pigeon loft must be a minimum of 15 feet away from the dwelling house it is associated with. 15 feet away ensures that the pigeons are far enough from creating any problems. However, the loft would also be close enough to ensure that the pigeon fanciers can have quick and easy access to the pigeons in case of an emergency and for a routine check up on your pets).

e) The pigeon loft should be constructed so that it has proper ventilation (but not drafty) and remains dry. f) There must be 2 perches for every bird and 2 nest boxes for every mated pair. g) The pigeon loft should be constructed so that pigeons cannot escape at free-will and rodents or other animals are not able to enter the loft. The loft must be completely sealed using quality building materials. h) The pigeon loft must be regularly maintained. Remove the birds and paint the outside and inside of the loft in order to ensure longevity of the loft and health of the pigeons. 4. Cleaning the loft a) The loft should be cleaned twice weekly minimum. More frequent cleaning will be encouraged. b) All buildings, structures, lofts, pens, training cages, etc. need to be disinfected at least 4 times a year. c) All feed and watering devices need to be disinfected weekly. d) Remove and responsibly dispose of all unsanitary waste after each cleaning. (Makes a great fertilizer for the vegetable garden or give the waste to a farmer!) 5. Feeding pigeons a) All pigeons MUST be fed inside the loft. b) Pigeon feed should not touch the surface of the pigeon loft floor. It is mandatory to use a feeder in order to ensure food is sanitary and not contaminated. c) Water must be changed DAILY. Twice a day is recommended for optimal health of your birds. d) All feed must be stored in sealed containers/bins in order to make the pigeon loft rodent proof. e) Only feed the pigeons as much as they can eat. Never have feed lying around. 6. Flying & training pigeons a) The pigeons must be locked up in the enclosed area at all times except for the purposes of training.

b) A maximum of two daily flights will be allowed. Before 9:00 am and after 5:00 pm from April 1st to September 30th and before 10:00 am and after 3:00 pm from October 1st to March 31st. c) During flight, no more than 50% of the pigeons shall be permitted to fly. d) C will not apply to pigeon fanciers that have entered their pigeons into organized races and the birds are returning home from a race. e) All flights must be supervised by the pet owner. f) Birds should be trained well enough that they do not sit around or lounge on the property of others. 7. Avian Flu Outbreaks a) Although pigeons have been deemed to be no risk to poultry or other bird species and are not carriers of the avian flu there will be a strict no-fly prohibition imposed on all Abbotsford Pigeon Club members during the quarantine period that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency sets out. b) When the ban has been lifted, pigeon fanciers will be allowed to fly their pigeons again. Until then, all birds must be locked down inside their enclosures. c) It does not matter whether the pigeon fancier lives in the infected zone or not. There will be a city wide prohibition. This is to ensure that pigeon fanciers act responsibly and understand the needs of our community.

 Conclusion

A pigeon licensing program should be initiated in order to allow responsible pet owners an opportunity to keep their pets. Our pigeons are not used for meat or eggs. They are solely raised as pets. The pigeon hobby has been a popular sport for hundreds of thousands of years and even today is strong in many parts of the worlds. However, due to the age of technology there has been a steep decline in the number of youth becoming involved in the sport. The sport has many benefits to offer and seeing it in decline is heartbreaking. On behalf of all the pigeon fanciers that reside in Abbotsford please amend the bylaws to include a specific bylaw for responsible pet owners raising pigeons. There is a lot of interest in keeping pigeons but many individuals shy away once learning about the restrictive bylaws. The bylaws as they stand now are extremely detrimental to the survival of this hobby. Please help to preserve a historically and culturally important hobby!

Thank you!