11/21/24
March 22, 2010
Is Mike Tyson's pigeon-racing show cruel? PETA says yes.: Looks like PETA has stepped into the ring with boxer Mike Tyson: On March 18, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to prosecutors in New York City requesting that they investigate Tyson's new pigeon-racing Animal Planet reality show, which will film in Brooklyn.
I look forward to someone FINALLY eating PETA's children.
posted by wfrazerjr at 04:10 PM on March 22, 2010
I'm no fan of PETA, and I don't think anyone should be prosecuted, but really, I would hope Animal Planet would shoot a little higher when choosing programming (of course, I've yet to see the show, could be perfectly harmless).
Where was PETA when Tyson was biting off Holyfield's ear?
Um, they're not People for the Ethical Treatment of People? Is this a trick question?
posted by justgary at 05:02 PM on March 22, 2010
I think PETA is grandstanding a bit on this one. Throwing out that sometimes the little pigeons get lost in storms. Really, birds sometimes have a hard time of it during storms? I'll be sure to tell the robins in my back yard that. Maybe PETA should get all birds to stop migrating, wouldn't want any of them to encounter a storm.
As to owners wringing the necks of slow birds, unless they can prove that Tyson (or others on the show) has done that, I don't want to hear it. Just because some owner might not be ethical is no reason to shut it down. Some dog owners are mean to their animals, does that mean Westminster has to shut down their dog show?
posted by dviking at 05:55 PM on March 22, 2010
Some dog owners are mean to their animals, does that mean Westminster has to shut down their dog show?
PETA already tried that.
Have you ever seen what some owners do to their dogs? It's a crime!
posted by BornIcon at 06:31 PM on March 22, 2010
Never thought I'd see the day I'd be on Tyson's side for something.
PETA are evil. I advise anyone who supports them to look into who they are and what they're really about.
posted by Drood at 07:35 PM on March 22, 2010
Wow,, BI, thanks for the link.
PETA linking the KKK and the AKC together? Ummm, maybe a bit of a stretch, but when you're cedibility is already pretty weak, what's it matter?
posted by dviking at 07:52 PM on March 22, 2010
Heh, my neighbor has homing pigeons. He used to use them to train his dogs with. Now he doesn't have dogs any more, and the pigeons still breed. When they get to be too numerous, he takes 'em for a drive up into the hills and lets 'em loose. The hawks think his pickup is the Chicken Delite truck.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:01 PM on March 22, 2010
owlhouse, that's a nasty slam to rats everywhere.
posted by dviking at 12:02 AM on March 23, 2010
Rats With Wings.
Blasphemy! Pigeons are among the most intelligent of birds.
The pigeon has also been found to pass the mirror test' (being able to recognise its reflection in a mirror) and is one of only 6 species, and the only non-mammal, that has this ability. The pigeon can also recognise all 26 letters of the English language as well as being able to conceptualise. In scientific tests pigeons have been found to be able to differentiate between photographs and even differentiate between two different human beings in a photograph when rewarded with food for doing so.
In other words, there's probably very little difference between the brain of mike tyson and a pigeon. He's just stronger. :)
posted by justgary at 12:03 AM on March 23, 2010
They use rats in laboratories too. Because they're smarter and cheaper than lawyers, or something.
posted by owlhouse at 12:16 AM on March 23, 2010
Pigeons are among the most intelligent of birds.
They can be quite tasty too.
posted by Spitztengle at 09:19 AM on March 23, 2010
Where was PETA when Tyson was biting off Holyfield's ear?
I sure hope the NY prosecutors ignore this.