We’ve all seen a version of this heart-warming story: a beloved dog gets separated from its family, and somehow, over hundreds of miles, manages to track them down again for a happy reunion. Domestic animals, with little ability to survive on their own, sometimes manage to pull off incredible feats to find their home and family again. Animals are all about home.

The same is true for pigeons, one of the oldest types of domesticated animal. The much-celebrated instincts of “homing” or “racing” pigeons, come down to just that: a pet trying to get back home. These birds live in a loft, are provided food, form life-long marriages with their pigeon mates, and raise their young. Then they are torn from nest, mate, loft, even from their babies, shipped hundreds of miles away to an unfamiliar place, and “tossed”, while people place bets on their ability to survive the journey home. In some races, fewer than 30% of the birds make it back.

Everyone is moved by the story of the lost dog finding its way home against the odds. But how many people would be in favor of a sport that deliberately abandoned that dog on the side of a highway, far from home, with bets placed on the odds of him finding his way back?

Pigeon racing season is upon us, and Palomacy expects an influx of broken, betrayed birds. They are found in backyards, trying to come inside houses, even landing on people’s shoulders in an attempt to find help. They are found injured by hawks and cats. They are found exhausted and starving, since they have no idea how to find food on their own. Some people try to track their owners by looking up the information on their leg bands, but pigeon racers don’t want these “failed” birds back. If they take them back at all, they are usually culled. Palomacy works tirelessly to rescue these birds, provide needed medical care, and to find loving, non-exploitative foster families and forever homes for them.

We expect our vet bills to go up significantly during this season. Please consider donating to support our work.

These are the less-lucky survivors of pigeon racing, who were unable to find help before falling victim to predators and starvation.

Palomacy provides veterinary care and rehabilitation, and with your support we are able to save many of these birds and nurse them back to health.

Thank you for helping us help them!