{"links":{"self":"https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/247035.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":247035,"attributes":{"action":"Put an end to public acts of cruelty towards pigeons and promote empathy through education.","background":"Pigeons are sentient wild animals that deserve protection from cruelty. Deliberately harming or killing pigeons in public is distressing, can encourage further acts of violence towards animals, and undermines respect for wildlife. Existing animal welfare laws should be consistently enforced, and greater emphasis should be placed on educating people about empathy and humane treatment of all animals.","additional_details":"We call on the Welsh Government to work with police, local authorities and schools to ensure that deliberate acts of cruelty towards pigeons in public are taken seriously and investigated where offences may have been committed under animal welfare legislation.\r\n\r\nWe also ask that educational initiatives promoting empathy, compassion and respect for wildlife be supported in schools and communities. Research has shown that encouraging empathy towards animals can help foster responsible behaviour and discourage cruelty.\r\n\r\nPigeons are often unfairly viewed as pests, yet they are intelligent, social animals that play a role in urban ecosystems. No animal should be subjected to unnecessary suffering simply because it is common or misunderstood. Public acts of animal cruelty should carry appropriate consequences and be met with education aimed at preventing future harm.","state":"open","signature_count":6,"threshold_for_referral":250,"threshold_for_debate":10000,"created_at":"2026-07-16T11:42:43.768Z","updated_at":"2026-07-21T15:15:40.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-07-21T15:13:57.085Z","closed_at":"2027-01-21T23:59:59.999Z","completed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-07-16T12:22:20.000Z","referral_threshold_reached_at":null,"referred_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"archived_at":null,"submitted_on_paper":false,"submitted_on":null,"creator_name":"Anna Marie Benson","rejection":null,"debate":null,"topics":[{"code":"animal-welfare","name":"Animal Welfare"},{"code":"education","name":"Education"}],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"England","code":"GB-ENG","signature_count":1},{"name":"Wales","code":"GB-WLS","signature_count":5}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"id":"W09000059","name":"Gŵyr Abertawe","signature_count":1},{"id":"W09000063","name":"Sir Gaerfyrddin","signature_count":4}],"signatures_by_region":[]}}}