Consider pigeons

I recently became involved with MickaCoo, the pigeon rescue operating in the SF Bay Area. You can find MickaCoo's founder's blog here. I have always loved these excellent animals who are too often under the radar of even many animal lovers. We have adopted two pigeons who currently live in a room in our garage, until they move into the loft I am building for them in our backyard. I have also been creating some advocacy material, such as the video above, with more to come.

Pigeons are awesome, excellent pets. They are smart and funny, low maintenance yet very adaptable, and they are very peaceful. Not to mention, I love hearing our birds coo in the morning :) Maggie, our little girl, loves human contact. She will readily hop on my hand and spend time on my
shoulder while I go about business.

This is Maggie:



Pigeons are not destructive as some other birds are, and they require only little space to be happy. They can even wear pants while they are out at home, so they don't poop everywhere! What's more, pigeons are vegan!!!

MickaCoo mainly (but not exclusively) rescues King pigeons, who escape or are rescued from meat markets where they are sold as "squab" for home slaughter. Kings are slightly larger, all-white, beautiful birds. The video above has many King pictures.

Currently MickaCoo is experiencing a crisis and it looks like the rescue will have to start turning away new arrivals. This will mean that these sweet, smart and peaceful birds who will not find forever homes, will be destroyed in shelters. There are 20 pigeons currently looking for a home.

The main point is: if you are looking for a companion who will always intently and quietly follow your every move, one who is not asking much but will provide you with lots of entertainment, consider a pigeon. Better yet, consider more than one! (They really like to be around other pigeons.) If you are not looking to or cannot adopt, but think that MickaCoo's work is worthy of supporting, please donate (it's tax deductible, if it matters). Money is most urgently needed for medical expenses, but the rescue will also gladly take stuff if it's something that's needed, so send an email! Or see the donate link on the homepage. I can personally attest that this is an all-volunteer organization ran by very dedicated people, and every penny given will go directly to medical care and feed of the animals.

BTW, it is no joke, pigeons can be shipped in the mail! (Yes, it is humane.) This allows the rescue to send birds to adopters far away. So if you know an animal lover with a barn somewhere, ask them about filling it with pigeons!