DA to meet with pigeon activists

By: James McGinnis

phillyBurbs.com

David Heckler

Bucks County District Attorney Dave Heckler has agreed to meet Tuesday with animal rights activists alleging cruel treatment of pigeons at Philadelphia Gun Club in Bensalem.

Pigeon advocates applauded Heckler’s decision to meet with humane officer Johnna Seeton, an activist from the Pennsylvania Legislative Animal Network.

On June 17, Seeton filed an animal cruelty citation against Philadelphia Gun Club.

However, the district attorney said he doubts Seeton will be able to show illegal activity by members of the club.

“I have a complaint from them which is, essentially, hot air,” Heckler said. “It is very specifically not a crime to shoot pigeons. However, I could certainly imagine things that you could do to a wounded pigeon that could be considered cruelty to animals.”

The gun club said it follows guidelines established by the American Veterinary Medical Association and a court order out of Berks County, later affirmed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Following a shoot, birds are collected by staff and specially trained dogs, said Sean Corr, attorney for the gun club. Those still alive are decapitated or strangled, he added.

Seeton described those guidelines as impossible to maintain.  

“In my opinion, the gun club can’t possibly collect all the wounded birds. Some are going to get away,” Seeton said. “I’ve gone back to many shoots and found dead birds lying there.”

As a court appointed humane officer, Seeton did not need the authorization of local police officers or the district attorney’s office to file her complaint against Philadelphia Gun Club, Heckler said.  

District Judge Len Brown, whose court is in Bensalem, is scheduled to consider Seeton’s citation Aug. 19.

Seeton has asked Heckler to approve her use of an attorney to prosecute in Bucks County and at the expense of the Humane Society.

Heckler said he will discuss that request as well as Seeton’s allegations of cruelty during next week’s meeting.