Animal advocates gathered in Manhattan on Wednesday, urging District Attorney Alvin Bragg to take action against those illegally capturing pigeons.
Dwayne Daly, 67, faced serious charges after being involved in an incident at Tompkins Square Park in East Village on April 30, where over 25 pigeons were affected. Reports indicated that he might use hunters from Pennsylvania for his actions.
Bird enthusiasts who rallied at the Highline expressed frustration that the crime doesn’t warrant bail, suggesting that offenders should face harsher penalties for animal cruelty.
“The enforcement here is laughable,” remarked John De Leonardo, the executive director of an animal advocacy organization on Long Island.
He insisted, “These offenders deserve fines and prison time. They should be fearful of their actions.” De Leonardo also noted the recent arrest of another pigeon poacher in Jackson Heights, Queens, emphasizing that current efforts to stop such crimes aren’t effective.
“Pigeons are not just birds; they symbolize New York City. We need to put an end to this inhumane practice,” said Curtis Swa, founder of the Guardian Angels. “It’s concerning that individuals can just come in and capture these birds with no repercussions,” he added.
Tina Tratchenberg, representing the caregivers and supporters of pigeons, echoed the sentiment: “Our plea is for pigeon poachers to become prisoners while pigeons fly freely.”
Daly faces multiple charges, including animal cruelty for wounding and starving birds, and has a history of luring pigeons to sell for shooting practice. He was also arrested on May 1 for unrelated charges stemming from a 2021 incident in Brooklyn.
According to the Parks Department, it is illegal to remove animals from parks in New York City.
The Manhattan DA’s office commented, “We take allegations of animal cruelty very seriously, and the defendant has been held accountable for his actions.”
