July 31, 2009

Dozens of white ringneck doves were rescued from the wild this week in Queens and are slated to be up for adoption in the coming days and weeks. (ZT Pet News Photo by Jennifer Chong)

Dozens of Doves Dumped in Queens Seek Homes: The domestic white ringneck doves could have been released after a wedding ceremony over the weekend, rescuers say. Unable to survive in the wild, the now-injured birds are slowly being caught by animal organizations.

NEW YORK -- They are traditionally symbols of peace, but the dozens of abandoned white ringneck doves appeared anything but tranquil as they squatted together, soaked and injured, in front of the Hall of Science in Flushing, Queens, earlier this week.

Animal rescue organizers say the 40 to 45 birds were likely released following a wedding ceremony in the area. Seventeen of them have been rescued and are being treated for various medical issues, including infections and hypothermia.

“I’m sure the people who did this don’t understand, that they were trying to celebrate something beautiful and good, but when they are doing something like this, they are only causing pain, anguish and suffering to animals,” explained P.J. McKofsky, a volunteer with Empty Cages Collective, a nonprofit organization that is helping to care for the doves.

“People treating animals like they are party favors is just not humane.”

White homing pigeons are more commonly released at wedding ceremonies, as the birds possess wildlife instincts and, given the proper conditions, are generally able to fly home. White ringneck doves, on the other hand, are heavily domesticated animals, unable to fend for themselves outside a caged setting.

“White ringneck doves have been selectively bred for generation after generation, kept in captivity,” McKofsky told Zootoo Pet News. “Despite what people may think, these animals really do not belong out in the open like this, and it presents real problems for them when that does happen.”

A passerby first noticed the birds on Saturday, July 25, while he was walking his dog off-leash around the Queens park. The dog attacked one of the birds, which was perched on the ground, and was later brought to New York City’s Animal Care and Control facilities. AC&C was alerted to the presence of more birds -- estimated to be around 45 at the time -- perched together on the ground and in surrounding trees.

Jennifer Chong, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation specialist, is one of the individuals who has taken part in the ongoing rescue of the doves.

“It was dark and raining, and using flashlights we were able to rescue 10 of the birds on the ground, huddled by the base of some trees,” Chong recalled of the Monday evening rescue mission. “There were two perched on tree branches, and we were able to grab them, but others were not visible in the darkness.”

People continued to scan the scene for additional abandoned birds, and have since rescued an additional eight doves -- one of which later died from a maggot-ridden infection. Several of the birds remain with Chong, who frequently cares for rescued animals -- including pigeons -- in her Flushing, Queens, apartment.

Some of the birds continue to suffer from medical ailments, but others are improving rapidly, say McKofsky and Chong, who are now looking for foster -- and potentially permanent homes -- for the birds. They say the animals will be posted on Petfinder.com in the coming days and weeks.

Remaining doves are still at large, as rescue organizers continue to search for them throughout the week.

“Initially, the birds that I have appear(ed) to be looking very sort of lethargic, and bedraggled from the rain, but they have really improved over the last day or so,” said Chong, noting that she has not yet named the animals. “They definitely have their own personalities, though, you can just tell that some are quieter and some are more outgoing than others.”

McKofsky says he has not seen a white ringneck dove rescue of this scale in New York City before, but that he is not surprised, given the birds’ accessibility and convenience. They can be purchased in most pet stores for around $15 to $20, in contract to homing pigeons, which run from $200 to $500.

“It’s just like anything else, you can readily find these animals from breeders or many pet stores,” McKofsky said. “They are cheap, and it’s unfortunate that people think that because it doesn’t cost very much to buy them, their lives aren’t valuable, as a result.”

But according to White Doves Release Professionals, an industry group that provides guidelines to humane bird release practices, the use of homing pigeons in ceremonial releases does not ensure a safe and humane procedure, either.

Homing pigeons, which are double the size of white ringneck doves and have black eyes, as opposed to the doves’ red, must have enough time to get home before sunset. They cannot fly in poor weather conditions, and should only fly in areas with which they are familiar.

The organization also includes a list of organizations and companies in the U.S. and Canada that adhere to their guidelines.

The release of birds is not illegal, but McKofsky says cases like this one have prompted Empty Cages Collective, a Brooklyn-based organization, to consider pushing for city or state regulations on the practice.

“It’s definitely something that needs to be looked at,” he said. “This is truly an abandonment case. In our mind, if you can’t legally dump a Golden Retriever in the woods with no food and water, you shouldn’t be able to do that for 50 or so birds that are just as dependent on human beings.”

To foster or adopt one of the rescued white ringneck doves, visit Empty Cages Collective at EmptyCagesCollective.Petfinder.com, e-mail EmptyCagesCollective@gmail.com or call 800-880-2624.

Amy Lieberman is a correspondent for ZT Pet News covering the New York region and can be reached at alieberman@zootoo.com.