Lewiston, N.Y. - Border agents pulled four live birds from the pockets of a pigeon collector and a traveling companion trying to enter the United States from Canada.
The Ontario men were asked during a secondary inspection to remove their coats and the pigeons were found, wrapped and taped from neck to tail, in inside pockets.
One man told CBP officers he is a pigeon collector who belongs to a club that trades and sells birds of various colors. He said he was taking the birds to trade or sell to his uncle.
The men, were fined $1,000 and the case was referred to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and United States Department of Agriculture inspectors for possible criminal charges.
People bringing pet birds into the country are required to arrange for a veterinary inspection at the border three to five days before entering to protect against the transmission of communicable diseases such as bird flu.
go
Full Version: Agents pull birds from men's pockets
Naw, they were just glad to see you!
QUOTE (Owlscrying @ Jan 1 2008, 12:39 AM) 
Lewiston, N.Y. - Border agents pulled four live birds from the pockets of a pigeon collector and a traveling companion trying to enter the United States from Canada.
The Ontario men were asked during a secondary inspection to remove their coats and the pigeons were found, wrapped and taped from neck to tail, in inside pockets.
One man told CBP officers he is a pigeon collector who belongs to a club that trades and sells birds of various colors. He said he was taking the birds to trade or sell to his uncle.
The men, were fined $1,000 and the case was referred to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and United States Department of Agriculture inspectors for possible criminal charges.
People bringing pet birds into the country are required to arrange for a veterinary inspection at the border three to five days before entering to protect against the transmission of communicable diseases such as bird flu.
go
The Ontario men were asked during a secondary inspection to remove their coats and the pigeons were found, wrapped and taped from neck to tail, in inside pockets.
One man told CBP officers he is a pigeon collector who belongs to a club that trades and sells birds of various colors. He said he was taking the birds to trade or sell to his uncle.
The men, were fined $1,000 and the case was referred to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and United States Department of Agriculture inspectors for possible criminal charges.
People bringing pet birds into the country are required to arrange for a veterinary inspection at the border three to five days before entering to protect against the transmission of communicable diseases such as bird flu.
go
Sad B"stards.
QUOTE (Incorrigible1 @ Dec 31 2007, 07:03 PM)
Naw, they were just glad to see you!
That's what I was thinking! Is that a Toucan in your pocket or....oh, boy! LOL
Ok, that's incredibly STUPID. As many folks know, I used to raise and sell birds, not pigeons, but parrots, but it doesnt' matter, the rules are the same.
Basically, to take an animal to and from Canada, to the USA, all you need is a vet health cert. they don't even cost much, $10 or $15 ... if you raise a lot of birds and have a regular vet, most will even give it for free as a service. That's it. Nothing else. I'm not sure, when it's SO easy to transport them why they'd try to smuggle them. That's just moronic.
These guys were idiots. Unless there's more to the story and the birds were stolen in the first place. Many valuble racing and fancy pigeons are microchipped.
More perplexing, why not just get a vet cert and mail them... you can do that (I did it a lot) it's cheaper than buying an airline ticket for a human and smuggling the birds.
Basically, to take an animal to and from Canada, to the USA, all you need is a vet health cert. they don't even cost much, $10 or $15 ... if you raise a lot of birds and have a regular vet, most will even give it for free as a service. That's it. Nothing else. I'm not sure, when it's SO easy to transport them why they'd try to smuggle them. That's just moronic.
These guys were idiots. Unless there's more to the story and the birds were stolen in the first place. Many valuble racing and fancy pigeons are microchipped.
More perplexing, why not just get a vet cert and mail them... you can do that (I did it a lot) it's cheaper than buying an airline ticket for a human and smuggling the birds.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.