Pro-animal groups appeal to pope over dove attack

Animal rights groups on Monday appealed to Pope Francis to end the practice of releasing doves from a Vatican window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, a day after a pair of the peace symbols were attacked by a seagull and crow while a crowd including thousands of children watched below.

The National Animal Protection Agency published an open letter Monday reminding Francis that domesticated doves are easy prey for predators like gulls.

Gulls nest atop the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, near the Tiber River, and scavenge for garbage in Rome

. The animal protection agency, known as ENPA, said freeing doves in Rome is like “condemning them to certain death.”

How about controlling the gull population and allowing some of the native birds to return? Attn Hippies: Unless you live on the coast or a garbage dump gulls do not count as native wildlife.