The German Animal Welfare Federation as the largest animal welfare umbrella organization and its State Animal Welfare Federation Hesse (LTVH) condemn yesterday's decision by the Limburg city parliament to uphold the killing of city pigeons by a hunter and falconer. A collection of signatures against the planned killing, initiated by animal rights activists from the Limburg city pigeon project, led to a citizens' petition with over 3,300 votes, which necessitated yesterday's special session of the city parliament. Now it is up to the citizens to stand up for the lives of the pigeons and the values of the Animal Welfare Act in the referendum to be held on June 9.
"The fact that the city parliament is now simply passing the ball on to the citizens instead of standing up for a clear line in line with our constitution is unspeakably weak. Under the guise of democracy, they are perfidiously shirking their own responsibility. As a society, we have long since agreed that animals should not simply be killed, but should be protected by all means. It is unacceptable that this principle should be put to the vote, which the people of Limburg now have to defend," criticizes Katrin Pichl, expert for urban pigeons at the German Animal Welfare Federation. She appeals to the citizens of Limburg: "If the decision is not averted, we want to call on everyone in Limburg to stand up for the values of the Animal Welfare Act in June and protect the lives of pigeons! There have long been successful animal-friendly methods to reduce the number of urban pigeons. Killing the animals is neither ethically justifiable nor does such a measure comply with the Animal Welfare Act."
Killing only as a last resort
After the city of Limburg's plans became public in November, the German Animal Welfare Federation appealed to the city councillors in several letters to oppose the killing of city pigeons and to choose measures that comply with animal welfare legislation. Legally, the umbrella organization has little leeway to take action against the decision, as the right to take legal action is not permitted in Hesse. Animal rights activists could only file a criminal complaint - and only once the first pigeon has been killed. With reference to the Animal Welfare Act, however, the Administrative Court of Stuttgart had already ruled in 2021 that authorities may not grant permission to kill pigeons if milder alternatives are available. The conclusion of the legal dispute at the time applies to all vertebrates: killing may only be considered as a last resort and only in justified exceptional cases if specific health risks have been identified and alternatives have been comprehensively clarified. In the case of urban pigeons, there is now sufficient evidence that the animals do not pose an increased health risk.
Animal-friendly population control through pigeon lofts
Other cities such as Augsburg have set up professionally managed pigeon lofts, demonstrating that there are successful, animal-friendly and sustainable alternatives for population control of urban pigeons. As soon as the animals lay eggs there, these can be replaced with dummies such as plaster eggs. Animal welfare associations and volunteers have already contacted the city of Limburg to help maintain a loft. Killing, on the other hand, not only causes animal suffering, but is also unsustainable, the animal rights activists point out: Any "gaps" created are quickly filled again by young birds or even pigeons flying in due to the pigeons' bred "breeding compulsion".
Note to editors: The German Animal Welfare Federation has been dispelling prejudices for years with its #RespektTaube campaign and is campaigning for an animal-friendly approach to urban pigeons. More information at: www.tierschutzbund.de/taubenschutz
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