Pigeon dies after teenager tries to tear off its wing

A pigeon died after a teenager plucked it from a tree and tore off part of its wing, the RSPCA said.

The animal welfare charity said the boy attacked the bird in Walthamstow, east London, at around 11.30am on Sunday.

A passerby saw the teenager on a silver scooter catch the wood pigeon on a low tree branch and then try to tear off its wing.

The witness stayed with the dying pigeon at Sandpiper Close and reported the incident to the RSPCA who later rescued the bird but were forced to euthanize it.

The charity has launched an investigation and is appealing for help to identify the teenager responsible for the “senseless attack”.

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Animal Rescue Officers (AROs) arrived on scene shortly after the attack and were able to see the bird hiding behind a fence near the tree with a badly broken wing.

ARO Nicole Thomas, from the RSPCA, said: “When I arrived at the scene there was blood and feathers in the street and the poor bird was hiding behind a nearby fence and was visibly terrified and stressed.

“I managed to capture the bird, but the damage was so severe that the kindest thing to do was to put it to sleep.

“The poor bird was happily feeding when this young man came and simply grabbed it from the tree and launched such a stupid attack on a defenseless animal.”

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The RSPCA wants to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or knows who is responsible.

The charity is also keen to hear from anyone with CCTV in the area, which could help the investigation.

Thomas said she thought that because the boy was on a scooter, he would probably live locally.

The suspect is described as a young teenager, white, with dark hair, wearing a tracksuit and riding a silver scooter.

Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 1234 999.