http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2008/07/03/6051121-sun.html

Thu, July 3, 2008
30,000 pigeons gassed to death
By THE CANADIAN PRESS

WATERLOO, Ont. -- It's estimated breeders have killed 30,000 pigeons
following the collapse of a controversial pigeon-meat venture.

Darren Grandel, an investigator with the Ontario SPCA, said the pigeons
were gassed last weekend near Teviotdale, in Waterloo Region.

Gassing is considered a humane way of killing the birds.

Grandel said he has identified 13 holding barns in Ontario where pigeons
were breeding as part of the failed Pigeon King venture.

He contacted breeders and estimated that pigeons in 11 of the barns were
still being fed, while upset owners considered their next steps.

Breeders have been told they must care for their birds until a market is
found or the pigeons are killed by a humane technique.

"They were basically trying to figure out what to do with them," Grandel
said. "They're under a lot of stress."

"They can't basically neglect the birds or commit an act of cruelty
because the company goes under," Grandel said.

Grandel said documents seized by his organization do not reveal numbers
of birds. He figured each barn would have at least 1,200 pigeons and
possibly many more.

Releasing the pigeons is not advised because they may not survive in the
wild or may end up nesting where they already are.

Pigeon King collapsed last month with a letter from founder Arlan
Galbraith, who pitched breeders in Canada and the United States on the
idea of selling pigeons for meat.

Galbraith told startled investors the venture is "dead in the water,"
leaving breeders who invested up to $200,000 with nowhere to sell the
birds.