Two Pigeons Beheaded in Norwich – This Animal Advocate Acted to Find the Killer

A PETA Hero to Animals Award is on its way to animal advocate Jenny Coupland, whose quick thinking led to the arrest of a man suspected of killing two pigeons by tearing their heads off in Norwich.

Coupland – who runs Team Pigeon, a group that helps injured birds – had found the decapitated animals while on a walk and acted on her hunch that the deaths were no accident. She sprang into action, finding witnesses to the crime and reporting the incident to police.

Never Be Silent

Coupland could have run from this horrid scene, but she chose to file a report to prevent more birds from dying in agony.

PETA’s maxim is “Never Be Silent”. We encourage everyone to speak up if they think someone may have harmed an animal, whether the victim is a pigeon or a puppy.

How Much Do You Know About Pigeons?

Pigeons have their own culture, mate for life, are devoted parents, and pass the “mirror test”, demonstrating self-awareness and intelligence.

They’re fascinating and heroic birds, who have earned more Dickin Medals – a Victoria Cross for animals – than any other species for saving the lives of civilians and members of the armed forces during World War II and subsequent conflicts.

Along with humans and rhesus monkeys, they’re one of just three species on Earth known to be able to distinguish between number groups and learn abstract mathematical rules.

PETA’s Sky Puppies campaign highlights the similarities between pigeons and dogs, who are both charming and intelligent beings. Yet because of speciesism – the belief that certain species are more important than others – some humans feel free to harm and deride these gentle birds.