Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

As I was on my way to work, I spotted a boy, seven or eight years old, scaring off a pigeon that was trying to eat some crumbs off the ground.

I approached the boy and asked him whether he would like it if someone tried to take away his food when he was eating. He told me not to interfere.

In the meantime, the boy’s mother approached me and asked me what I had told her son. I repeated what I told him and she started yelling at me, telling me pigeons spread diseases and that they are disgusting birds. I told her it is proven that pigeons do not spread any diseases. She replied that, if she could, she would shoot all the pigeons in the world.

Why all this hatred towards pigeons? Why aren’t they even allowed to eat the crumbs they find? Isn’t it enough that we are not allowed to feed them? Should they be left to starve to death? When we feel pangs of hunger, wouldn’t we wish to satisfy our hunger with some food?

Pigeons are very friendly birds. They are harmless and never try to hurt anyone. They do not spread disease and one can verify this with any doctor or bird expert.

Please, let us teach our children to love and show respect to all creatures, great and small, whether they are of a fine breed or just ordinary.