There are few things that can get under my skin quite like seeing adults stand by while children or dogs terrorise pigeons.
This is an FGV rant!
Read more below.
And yes, I know the word “terrorise” might sound dramatic when we are talking about a few pigeons being chased around a pavement. But when you are the animal being pursued, harassed, and deliberately frightened for someone else’s entertainment, I imagine it feels pretty bloody terrifying.
I was reminded of this yesterday while walking near my home in London. I saw a couple encouraging their small dog to chase a group of pigeons. They were running along behind the dog in the direction of the birds and laughing every time they got close enough to make the pigeons scatter.
I was furious. I was just about to give them a piece of my mind when they turned a corner and disappeared out of shouting range.
And it isn’t only dogs.
Last year I was in Hyde Park when I saw a young man, possibly around 16-years old, throwing rocks at ducks and deliberately stamping his feet to frighten them. I walked over and asked him to consider why this might not be a particularly kind thing to do.
I also spoke to his friends. They weren’t bothering the birds, so I suggested that perhaps they could take it upon themselves to let their mate know that frightening wildlife for fun isn’t OK.
Some of them mumbled an apology. I’m sure they all thought I was an old weirdo.
And that’s fine. I’ve made peace with being the old weirdo who intervenes when animals are being treated badly, because I’ve seen this behaviour countless times with young children and pigeons and I don’t want to be silent about it.
I understand the curiosity. I understand that little kids are figuring out the world around them, testing boundaries, discovering cause and effect, and developing their own sense of self. A pigeon flies away when you run towards it. That can probably seem hilarious when you’re 3-years old.
But I also believe children are remarkably open to learning about compassion. They can understand that another living creature might be frightened. They can understand that something being funny to you doesn’t necessarily mean it is funny for the other person, or animal, involved.
And that is where the adults come in.
When I see a small child chasing pigeons while the adults laugh or encourage them, I often softly say, “Don’t scare the poor birds”, usually loudly enough for the grown-ups to also hear.
I am not trying to parent somebody else’s child nor am I interested in lecturing strangers about how to raise their family. But I do think there is something worth considering when an adult watches a child deliberately frighten an animal and decides that the appropriate response is laughter.
A child running towards a pigeon does not need to be told that they are a terrible person but they could simply be told: “Look, the pigeon is scared. Let’s give them some space.”
Such a simple and low-effort lesson.
We teach children to look both ways before crossing the road, not to touch hot things, to be careful around other people, and to respect personal space. Why wouldn’t we also teach them that animals deserve space and consideration?
Maybe chasing pigeons is treated as some sort of childhood rite of passage. Maybe almost every generation has done it. Maybe some people think I’m taking it all far too seriously.
But I think every interaction a child has with an animal is an opportunity to reinforce an idea about how we treat other living beings. We can teach them that smaller, weaker, or different creatures do not exist for our entertainment. We can teach them that animals have their own experiences, their own fears, and their own right to feel safe.
So I want to know what you think?
Do you see children chasing and frightening pigeons as harmless fun and a normal part of growing up? Do you think it is simply a rite of passage that most kids go through?
Or could these moments actually be useful opportunities to introduce children to compassion, empathy, and the idea that other animals are entitled to a little peace?
And what about dogs? Should we be encouraging our pets to chase birds for fun?
Maybe I’m an old weirdo, but I think the pigeons and ducks deserve better.
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