Last Saturday, December 15, 2012, while our country and the world mourned the horrific mass-killing of children and adults at a Connecticut school, the vile and sadistic members of the Philadelphia Gun Club (PGC) held a live pigeon shoot on their property bordering the Delaware River.

The pigeon slaughter occurred mere hours after the human massacre, an event that made even President Obama shed tears of grief and disbelief.

There was however, no sense of loss by the narcissistic psychopaths at the PGC. While you and I, and millions of others held heavy hearts, the wealthy and politically connected PGC members laughed and cheered as they indulged in endless bloodlust. Hundreds of innocent animals were shot. Few died outright. Many were wounded but escaped and were left to die slow, painful deaths.

But there was one hitch to their blood orgy. SHARK was there.

While the PGC fired their guns throughout the day, SHARK's long-range videocameras documented the slaughter. Additionally, a SHARK inflatable boat piloted by SHARK investigator Stu Chaifetz was posted right off PGC's shoreline to document and rescue, and that brings us to our miraculous story of life today.

 

Miracle on the rocks, and then landing in the water after being chased by the fox

This little pigeon was shot early in the slaughter.  Shotgun pellets shattered her leg and injured her wing, but with the determination of an Olympic athlete, she managed to fly above the high PGC wall to crash land on the rocks below.

Injured, bleeding, and stunned, the little bird was suddenly confronted with yet another threat.  Out of nowhere, a fox came running along the river bank. The fox, seeing the wounded pigeon, chased her and the bloody little bird with the broken wing and leg fluttered frantically, making it to the water.  Thankfully the fox gave up and continued his path along the river bank.

Of course, the fox was in no way the villain in this story. In fact, the fox is another of the victims of the cowardly PGC psychopaths. Predators who consume PGC's victim pigeons are at risk from consuming the shot pellets. The fox was merely trying to survive.  It is the pigeon shooters who are the criminals, and they are protected by corrupt Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler.

Stu immediately headed his boat to the injured bird. Most pigeons, having been sorely abused by every person leading up to and including the pigeon shoot, will naturally try to fly away when we attempt to pick them up. But not this little girl. She looked up with trusting eyes and moved not at all when caring hands reached down and lifted her out of the cold water and rocks.

Once rescued, Miracle is taken to the New Jersey side of the Delaware River

She was taken to a wildlife rehabilitator who cares for the pigeons we rescue. The rehabilitator told us how sweet and trusting her latest patient is, including how she fell asleep while cradled in the rehabber's arms.

The rehabber named her "Miracle" - such an apt name, don't you think?



Sadly, there are people who will look at Miracle's picture and see a living target that they want to kill for the pleasure it brings. Fortunately, there are others who will look at her picture and see a beautiful animal that deserves compassion and care.

Miracle, safe with SHARK. She was still bleeding for some time after being shot.

SHARK is grateful for our supporters whose help enabled Miracle to be rescued. We will never stop fighting until this battle is won.

Miracle with the wildlife rehabilitator, who is giving her a lot of love and care

SHARK investigator Stu Chaifetz was hit numerous times during the shoot. He will be filing a complaint with the Bensalem Police Department. Unfortunately, we do not expect the town of Bensalem to do anything. Those of us protecting the PGC's victims have the same rights as the pigeons in Bucks County and the rest of the state - none. Nevertheless, we will not simply lie down for the rich but morally bankrupt animal abusers or their minions.

There will be much more to come in our fight against Pennsylvania's shameful pigeon shoots.  Watch for our next update, which will include news of SHARK's latest exposure of the cruel and corrupt Rodeo Mafia.  Shocked horses, drugged horses - it's everything that America claims NOT to be.  So why do so many American companies and politicians bed down with these phony cowboys?