Opinion No. (2000)

BILL LOCKYER Attorney General GREGORY L. GONOT Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE SHEILA JAMES KUEHL, MEMBER OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY, has requested an opinion on the following question: Is it a violation of the state's animal cruelty laws to conduct a "pigeon shoot" at which domestic pigeons are released from cages and shot for purposes of sport and amusement? CONCLUSION It is a violation of the state's animal cruelty laws to conduct a "pigeon shoot" at which domestic pigeons are released from cages and shot for purposes of sport and amusement. ANALYSIS The question presented for analysis concerns a "pigeon shoot" at which pigeons that are trapped in cities are released from cages in a remote area to be shot as part of a contest. An entry fee is paid by the contestants, and prizes are won depending upon how many pigeons a contestant is able to kill. An admission charge is collected from those wishing to view the event. The dead pigeons are not used for food, and the birds are not "game birds" shot during an officially sanctioned hunting season. The pigeons captured for the pigeon shoot are domestic pigeons (Columba livia). 1 We are informed that the birds are transported to the…