Woman takes pet pigeon wherever she goes

By Jamie Singleton and Filipa Gaspar

A woman who owns a pet racing pigeon takes him wherever she goes - including pubs and shops.

Pam Welfare has had pet racing pigeon Pepper since around a month old after the bird was hatched in June 2023.

The 40-year-old from Market Lavington in Wiltshire got her from a friend who has racing pigeons - and it has now been in her life for two years.

Together they are often seen out and about, with Pam saying she often takes her beloved bird shopping with her and to the local pubs.

Pepper is a racing pigeon, which makes him a little different from other birds of his kind - but he will stand still on his owner's shoulder everywhere they go.

"Pepper is perfectly happy looking at the world in my shoulder," she said.

"I take him to the pub, charity shops, high street and B&M. Even to day trips to various places and attractions.

"It is my pet - anywhere you take your dog I take my pigeon. I get that it is an unusual pet but I guess I can say I am an unusual person - I do what makes me happy."

Pam is uncertain about Pepper’s gender – while she used to think Pepper was a female, she now suspects that Pepper is a male, but cannot say for certain.

She said: "My friends had racing pigeons. I asked if I could have one. He said I could have one of two chicks and I chose Pepper.

"They are actually quite smart. They can be very friendly and are lovely to have around. They are misunderstood creatures.

"When there was no use to them we didn't care about them anymore. They are still classed as vermin and they can't help it.

“I don’t think Pepper realizes that he’s a pigeon.

"Sometimes I go out and feed feral pigeons in Devizes and Trowbridge, and Pepper will look down on them from my shoulder.”

Pam explained that 'ninety-five percent' of the time people's reaction to the bird is positive, but occasionally people will express negative reactions to him.

She said: "People are interested and try to stroke Pepper. Occasionally you get 'ew, why do you have a pigeon?'.

"Pepper will allow people to give him a pet, especially if I'm holding him. And whenever my brother comes round, Pepper goes straight over to him."

"Pepper will fly around the house during the daytime. If I have to go somewhere that I can't take him I leave him in a cage.

This is the third pigeon she has.

The first pigeon was a rescue baby pigeon that she found on a shop but eventually flew off. The second one was called Lucky who sadly died from a neurological disease.

Pam and Pepper are often seen out and about, with Pam saying she often takes her beloved bird shopping with her.

“You’ll see me in B&M and the local high street shops, the Works, Poundland – people don’t mind. We’ve got a couple of restaurants that will allow me to bring Pepper in.”

The pair even go to the pub, and Pam singled out two in particular for their warm and welcoming attitude to the pinioned pub-goer.

Pam said: “The Market Tavern in Melksham, and the Water Meadow are fantastic. They know Pepper in there, and they always ask after him.”

The pet wanders around Pam's shoulder and stays still most of the time.

"Pepper is perfectly happy looking at the world in my shoulder.

"It is my pet - anywhere you take your dog I take my pigeon.

"I get that it is an unusual pet but I guess I can say I am an unusual person - I do what makes me happy."

Pam makes almost all of Pepper’s equipment herself, including the harness, a shoulder pad that Pepper can stand on, as well as a nappy that helps protect Pam’s home.

She says she and Pepper have faced controversy in the past, especially when it came to property regulations.

“When I moved into my flat, they asked if I had any pets, and I said I had a caged bird.

''They asked what kind of bird I had, and when I told them it was a pigeon they said they didn’t allow poultry.

“Pepper’s not poultry, he’s a racing pigeon. They ended up giving me a letter saying that they allow me to have a pigeon.

"At the time I was homeless and I was afraid I was going to give away Pepper. It is sad to have to pick somewhere to live or someone you love - but I am grateful I can have both."

Despite the setbacks, Pam is very understanding of people's reservations. But she left a warning to people who would consider getting a pigeon from the wild.

"Do not take a pigeon from the wild. They make their own life. You could be stealing a husband or a wife," she said.