Animal activists protest pigeon shoots

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Animal-rights activists say they'll use a $1 million donation from former TV game-show host Bob Barker to fight live pigeon shoots at a Pennsylvania gun club.

Barker, former host of "The Price is Right" and longtime animal-rights activist, urged the Pennsylvania Legislature to end the "horrendous" activity that uses live birds for target practice, the Philadelphia Daily News reported Monday.

Barker donated the $1 million to an anti-cruelty group Showing Animals Respect and Kindness, which plans to protest at the next shoot held by the Philadelphia Gun Club, SHARK founder Steve Hindi said.

Sean Corr, an attorney for the gun club, noted the pigeon shoots are legal in Pennsylvania and said the club would "continue lawful activity on private property."

"Contributing $1 million to save pigeons which are destined for extermination at a time when hundreds of thousands of people are in need of food, clothing and shelter in Haiti, we feel, is eloquent testament to the extremism of Mr. Barker and his associates," Corr said.