Pro-animal groups appeal to pope over dove attack

AP ^ | 1/27/2014 | FRANCES D'EMILIO

[markomalley]

Animal rights groups on Monday appealed to Pope Francis to end the practice of releasing doves from a Vatican window overlooking St. Peter's Square, a day after a pair of the peace symbols were attacked by a seagull and crow while a crowd including thousands of children watched below.

The National Animal Protection Agency published an open letter Monday reminding Francis that domesticated doves are easy prey for predators like gulls.

Gulls nest atop the colonnade of St. Peter's Square, near the Tiber River, and scavenge for garbage in Rome. The animal protection agency, known as ENPA, said freeing doves in Rome is like "condemning them to certain death."

[markomalley]

The practice of releasing doves is just an idiotic bit of symbolism over substance. But if animal rights group oppose it, maybe it's not so bad.

[Bullish]

It’s kinda’ really stupid of them when you think about it. What did they expect to happen?

Don’t worry though, they have plenty of money to buy more doves.

[knarf]

I had to look to see if this was Semt Semi Satyrical News or something.

THEN I realized it was a real report a day or two ago.

THIS is why FR should NEVER allow satire to be published .... unless it has something to do with Jabberwockies.

[markomalley]

It’s kinda’ really stupid of them when you think about it. What did they expect to happen?

Think of it as an allegory: lofty idealism getting bit in the wing a$$ by the the flying rats of the real world.

[Liberty Valance]

[KarlInOhio]

Pro-predatory animal rights groups demand that the pope release more flying morsels. “It is pure carnophobia to discriminate based on eating habits” announced Crows Acting Really Naturally In Viewing Organisms as Raw Edibles.

[Carriage Hill]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, the other, other, other white meat...

[Alex Murphy]

The practice of releasing doves is just an idiotic bit of symbolism over substance. But if animal rights group oppose it, maybe it's not so bad.

Maybe this is a papal ministry to the seagulls. Feed the birds! Tuppence a bag....
2013:Pope's dove of peace almost ends in pieces: Seagull attacks bird
2014: Birds attack peace doves freed from Pope Francis' window