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AlexRain1 t1_iy4mhrb wrote

Sorry, but how can you tell these are pets vs all of the other pigeons that are walking around NYC sidewalks?

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Cmondudecmon OP t1_iy4oji1 wrote

Because they were dumped and they have tags on their ankles. They cannot fly and whoever dumped them left a bag of food next to them.

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sysyphusishappy t1_iy5rmrt wrote

Why can't they fly?

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HippiMan t1_iy5vn7l wrote

"Clipping" birds wings is a thing :( Like declawing a cat...just don't get the fucking animal if you don't like a physical fucking part of it that much...

No idea why you would clip a bunch of pigeons wings though, most clipping is probably to keep your expensive pet from being impossible to catch.

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abstruse_traverse t1_iy64ivb wrote

Clipping bird wings typically just means cutting some of the longer wing feathers shorter. Unlike declawing or debarking it doesn't hurt the bird and will grow back in time. It's often done to protect the birds - i.e. clipping chicken wings to keep them from flying out of fencing where dogs can eat them.

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b3tchn t1_iy67fuq wrote

Right, it's more like clipping nails or cutting hair. Feathers grow back and it's completely fine to do for the pet bird's safety and does not harm the animal.

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yoursolace t1_iy7t9du wrote

Yeah I was going to say I have a pet bird who's wings were clipped when I got him but within a few months he was flying around and getting into all the mischief he could. I have had him for 20 years now and he's a grumpy old man who runs everywhere half the time, but still flies around and poops everywhere whenever he gets startled!

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Snoo-27930 t1_iy5wpd4 wrote

Removing a dog's vocal cord so they can't bark loud is another one

Its sad

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