A Brooklyn pet store co-owner sparked outrage after allegedly trapping neighborhood pigeons and selling them to be shot in out-of-state contests — a twist so bizarre it feels ripped from a dark comedy.
Michael Scott, who runs Broadway Pigeon & Pet Supplies, allegedly netted about 20 pigeons from Bushwick’s Maria Hernandez Park on April 1. And no, this wasn’t some April Fools’ prank. According to witnesses, the birds were nabbed in broad daylight.
Activist and artist Tina Piña — better known by her street name, “Mother Pigeon” — has cared for this flock for over 12 years. “These birds know me. They trust me,” she told reporters. “And now they’re probably being blown apart for sport.”
Pigeon Shootouts Are Still Legal?
As strange as it sounds, pigeon shooting contests still happen in Pennsylvania. Competitors line up and take shots at birds launched from traps — a sport banned in most places but still hanging on in a few pockets of the country.
While New York City has strict laws against trapping birds from public property, activists say enforcement is nonexistent. Groups like Humane Long Island have documented years of this behavior with little legal pushback.
“This is a wildlife trafficking pipeline happening in plain sight,” said John Di Leonardo, the organization’s president. “These birds are stolen from our streets and sold for target practice. It’s cruelty wrapped in legal gray zones.”
Store With a Shady History
Michael and Joey Scott, the brothers behind the pet shop, have been on activists’ radar for a while. Pigeon-breeding circles know their store, and past reports have linked it to brokers who supply birds for these contests.
When asked about the latest accusations, Joey Scott brushed them off. He claimed their birds come from breeders or are surrendered pets, not from park netting.
But activists say the timing is suspicious — just days before a big shooting event in Pennsylvania. Eyewitnesses have come forward, and people have reported similar incidents near their business before.
A Fight for the Birds
For animal advocates, this case isn’t just about pigeons. It’s about the broader problem of animal cruelty being ignored in urban environments. The theft of park pigeons might not make nightly news, but to groups like Humane Long Island and the NYC Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee, it’s a matter of principle.
“These birds are part of our ecosystem. They’re not just flying trash,” said Di Leonardo. “They have every right to live — not end up in someone’s backyard shootout.”
Activists are now demanding action from local authorities and encouraging the public to report suspicious pigeon activity. In the meantime, “Mother Pigeon” continues feeding the remaining birds and holding vigil at the park.
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