To feel so upset - pigeon

[Swimfiend]

Just on my way to a meeting for work in central London. Got utterkyndrenched in the downpour and saw a completely soaked pigeon on the side of the road. Poor thing looked really wet and bedraggled. I watched it and it couldn’t fly, it kept trying to and limping. As I watched it moved closer to the middle of the road. I didn’t have anything to pick it up with and I thought maybe I should pick it up with my hands but then would I have taken it to this meeting.

as I watched it a car ran over and killed it. I just feel really upset. And maybe I should have moved it. There was nothing I could use but maybe I should have used my hands.

At least it was instant. I really feel for you witnessing that, but it's no longer scared or suffering. It wasn't your fault.

I'm in London and have seen several dead pigeons in the road recently. i'm wondering if it might be bird flu because it doesn't seem normal. The pigeon you saw might also have been ill.

don't cry for a pigeon - it died quickly and without knowing what was happening.

I would feel the same. But at least it died quickly, and this is no bad thing if it was struggling. It’s horrible but you’ll move past it, you can’t save the world x

Check if you have a local pigeon page on your Facebook. My city does and it has people who can rehabilitate pigeons, offer advice etc and can recommend any local wildlife rehabilitation centres in the borough. I know it obviously will not help this poor pigeon but might make you feel slightly better if you see a poorly/injured pigeon in the future.

If you’d have taken it to the vets it would have been put down anyway. While it’s a bit more dignified to be put down in a vets, at least the poor thing isn’t suffering anymore. Sorry you had to see it though.

Probably for the best.

in all honesty I would be relieved if the biggest issue I had to worry about was a dead pigeon…

Without meaning to be callous, if it couldn't fly and was limping then the car killing it may have been the best outcome. Either that or a fox would get it or it would carry on living in pain.

Aw, poor thing. Awful for you to witness too. 😔 Don’t be hard on yourself, you didn’t really have the right equipment, gloves, a box etc. You sound kind, many would have seen it and not given it a second thought. 💐

I'm so sorry that you had to witness that. At least the pigeon had a quick death and wasn't left crippled and helpless.

I have a pigeon imprint on my window complete with eye and foot outline clear as day there is no way that bird survived but there is no body to be found so maybe it survived?

Your not the only one who worrys about pigeons

🙄 Did OP say it was the biggest issue in her life? People can think about multiple things, most people’s brains are complex, maybe yours isn’t though? Poor you. Ask Santa for some empathy this year in your stocking perhaps?

Christ. What a horrible comment. Are people not allowed to worry/care about several things at once according to you?

You are a lovely person for caring; the world would be a better place if there were more like you. Sorry you witnessed that. Doesn't sound like there was anything you could have done to change the outcome.

I feel you @Swimfiend

something like this would effect me for the rest of the day.

It is upsetting to see

I saw a duck running from one side of lane to the other on an A road, then a lorry ran over it. Happened all so quickly

It was really upsetting, cars were swerving a little but there was nothing that could be done

I still think about the little duck when I drive on that road

We found a dead pigeon last week at the front of our house .looks like it just fell out of the sky dead
Plus a couple dead in the toad
I thought at the time ,more dead pigeons than normal

Nasty and completely needless reply.

Presumably you know that people can demonstrate empathy and compassion without it being the biggest issue they have to worry about? Very strange comment.

OP I would be exactly the same. Horrible thing you had to see and I would’ve felt incredibly sad for the pigeon as well. As others have said, at least it was instant and it wasn’t struggling in pain for a prolonged period

Thank you for all your kind comments. I have been googling what to do and found some wildlife rescues but not local to central London which is where this was.

I feel sad. I feel I did just leave the pigeon to die, maybe I should have tried to shuffle it back onto the pavement.

I'm sorry you saw this. That would upset me a lot too.

So little can be done for birds that can’t fly. Better it was hit by a car than the many other ways a bird can suffer. Poor you though.

This has happened to me, twice. It’s just awful. Please don’t feel bad, you weren’t the one who ran him over and you were trying to help. Please ignore those heartless comments from people, the world needs less of that “it’s only an animal” attitude.

DH says the pigeons are really fat at the moment and so they are finding it hard to take off, with their extra weight. I don't know if that's true or not.

It wasn’t fat. It was quite small and looked completely drenched. I don’t know why it couldn’t fly away or properly walk. I think it must have been injured somehow or being so wet it couldn’t fly. I just keep thinking that I knew it would eventually get run over and I didn’t really act to do anything to stop that. Just stood there prevaricating to myself. It feels awful to know that I watched it drag itself into the middle of the road, knowing it was heading to danger and then watched it get run over.

i should have used my hands. I think if I’d had a coat or a jumper I would have tried to pick it up.

You may be interested to join the London Pigeon Stringfoot and Rescue FB page. They are always looking for support to help London pigeons.

I’m sorry you saw this. It would have really upset me too.