Animal Services crews say the discovery far exceeded initial estimates for the rescue
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- Rescue teams found about 550 pigeons in a North Carolina shed, though they were expecting closer to 300
- Many birds were emaciated and required veterinary care
- Healthy pigeons will be made available for adoption after recovery
What began as a routine animal welfare response quickly escalated into a massive rescue effort after crews discovered hundreds more pigeons than expected inside a Greensboro, N.C., shed.
According to reporting by WFMY News 2, Guilford County Animal Services and two Charlotte-area bird rescues were initially told that about 300 pigeons were being housed in the outhouse behind a local home. When responders opened the door, they found closer to 550 birds packed inside the structure.
Guilford County Animal Services
The sheer volume caught even experienced rescuers off guard.
“When I walked in, my jaw kind of hit the floor,” longtime pigeon owner and rescuer Dillya Eisert told the outlet. “We hit the 300 mark, and we weren’t even close to being done.”
Eisert assisted the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue team, which arrived with a horse trailer to help transport the birds. Animal care technicians and officers worked methodically, filling more than a dozen large carriers as they removed pigeons from the shed, according to WFMY News 2.
Officials say many of the birds showed visible signs of neglect.
“I’m picking up a lot of very skinny, emaciated birds,” Eisert recalled, noting that several appeared ill and in need of immediate medical attention.
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Guilford County Animal Services
PEOPLE reached out to the Guilford County Animal Services and the Carolina Waterfowl Rescue for comment and have yet to receive a response.
Relatives of the former homeowner of the vacant home told WFMY News 2 that no one currently lives in the main house. A tenant who had been staying in the basement reportedly owned the pigeons. Neighbors noted to officials that they were unaware of the number of birds and did not report disturbances tied to the property.
Despite the conditions, rescuers said they are focused on recovery rather than blame. “I felt sick and very angry, but I know the family member was doing his best,” Eisert stated.
The pigeons are now under veterinary evaluation and receiving care through Carolina Waterfowl Rescue. Birds that regain strength and are deemed healthy will eventually be available for adoption.
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