Animal lovers demand action on Shrewsbury pigeon deaths
Campaigners are hoping to ruffle a few feathers with a new petition aimed at preventing the “appalling and wholly preventable deaths” of pigeons in Shrewsbury town centre.
Daniel Baker from Shrewsbury has been moved to launch a petition of 38 degrees calling for Shrewsbury Town Council and Shropshire Council to remove the netting that has been placed around buildings and bridges in the Castle Foregate and railway station area.
Since the petition was launched three days ago, it has attracted more than 460 signatures. Mr Baker is calling on the councils to remove all netting put up around the buildings and bridges used to prevent pigeons and other animals from accessing the areas. He says that alternative management practices should be explored as a matter of urgency for animal welfare and public health.
In his open letter on 38 degrees, he said: “Despite the precautions taken to prevent animals from accessing these points the netting provisions have failed.
“Consequently, pigeons have gained access through torn holes and areas where netting has been inadequately installed.
“The result is pigeons are getting trapped within the netting and dying appalling and wholly preventable deaths. These deaths occur through multiple routes: namely suffocations, starvations and dehydration.
“The suffering these animals must experiences is unimaginable and is evident by the number of birds littering the netting around Castle Foregate which raises additional public health concerns as the bodies decompose above our heads.
“Shrewsbury Town Council and Shropshire Council, please remove or enforce the removal of this unnecessary method of keeping away so called ‘pests’.
Several of those signing the petition have said that the practice of netting the bridges and buildings is wrong and inhumane. One said: “This abhorrent practice can not continue.”
Another said: “There is a genuine health risk involved plus the inhuman treatment of these birds is appalling.”
On Facebook, Sarah Thomas said: “I had to shield my seven year old from seeing this the other day. So sad.”
And Tracy Evans added: “Why on earth don’t they use a much stronger wire, like chicken wire, it can’t snap or snag and once it’s there it won’t need constant attention or maintenance, surely costing less in the long run?”
In 2013, Network Rail installed metal spikes on the bridge to try and deter the pigeons from roosting on the bridge.
