In a surprising turn last week, a Pennsylvania man avoided jail after police stopped him from taking dozens of pigeons out of a New York City park. Dwayne Daley, 67, was arrested after police found more than 24 pigeons in the back of his truck near Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan. Authorities said he had been moving the birds into the city to sell them to hunters who use pigeons as targets for shooting practice.
Daley had faced a charge of animal cruelty, which can carry up to a year in prison. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office reached a deal with him on Friday. He will be free for now, but must not be re‑arrested for six months. Because the period has ended, prosecutors dismissed the charge.
Animal‑rights groups erupted in anger over the outcome. John Di Leonardo of Humane Long Island said, “Pigeons are New York citizens. Using them for blood sports is cruel and illegal.” He added that Daley has a history of pigeon trading: the same man was arrested in 2021 for assault and earlier in the 2000s for similar pigeon‑taking activities that were ultimately dismissed.
The case highlights an ongoing problem in New York City: people hauling pigeons from public places to sell them as shooting targets. City law, listed on the 311 website, makes it illegal to remove birds from parks and classifies it as animal abuse.
Prosecutors said they take animal‑abuse allegations seriously, and they will continue to pursue investigations into other cases of cruelty, neglect, and organized fighting. Daley, who has not spoken to reporters, remains on the scene as activists call for stronger enforcement and tougher penalties for poachers who keep pigeons chained and beaten.
PETA and other advocacy groups praised the arrest and urged the city to protect the city’s feathered residents. The story serves as a reminder that legal loopholes can let cruelty slip through the cracks, especially when it involves beloved city pigeons that many New Yorkers love to watch.
Source: New York Post
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
