The heartbreaking reason why you should never release doves at your wedding: ‘So cruel’
Footage of what happens to doves after being released at weddings is going viral on TikTok — and hopefully encouraging brides- and grooms-to-be to rethink the outdated and harmful practice.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen animal lovers take to social media to persuade people not to use animals to commemorate special life events. Last year an animal rescue organization reminded Instagram followers that “animals are not props” after parents-to-be dyed pigeons pink and released them for the sake of their gender reveal.
But judging by these recent TikToks, it would appear the message still isn’t getting through.
One such TikTok, uploaded by Michele Matamoros (@louddesignx) on June 19, captured 12 doves left stranded at Brooklyn Bridge Park after being released at a wedding. According to Matamoros’s video, the birds had been sitting on the bridge since June 17.
“The owner was supposed to come back to get them,” Matamoros explains in the video. “But now they are here. They’re not being fed, and they’re just sitting here.”
In a follow-up video, uploaded on June 20, Matamoros told followers that she called a nonemergency number to report the lost birds and had returned with seeds and grains to feed them.
To this, TikToker @rosie.nicastro replied, “UPDATE: Wild Bird Fund left food & water but can’t get to them, rangers gonna help in the morning.”
However, Matamoros isn’t the only TikToker to encounter helpless wedding doves in the wild.
After coming across a solitary dove in a local park, TikToker Kristi Luik (@the.icy.relatable) took to the app with a similar PSA. “This breaks my heart,” Luik’s caption reads.
While Luik reported in a follow-up video that the bird was still alive one month later, the animal was clearly far from home and not among its own kind.
“Why do ppl involve animals to a one time event? that’s so cruel,” commented @zombielandgee.
“They need to ban this practice,” wrote @botoxedwitch.
“We need to stop releasing everything period. Balloons, birds- all of it. It’s so unnecessary,” replied @holycrystalsbatman.
Where do wedding doves come from?
Wedding doves are either rented from breeders or bought from pet stores — but the truth of the matter is, they’re not really doves at all.
According to Palomacy, a pigeon and dove rescue group, wedding doves are actually either homing pigeons or king pigeons that have been selectively bred to be all white.
While many dove release companies claim that their homing pigeons are trained to fly home, the reality is that many birds will end up getting lost, injured or killed after being released, as their coloration makes them easy prey.
If they’re not rented from dove release companies, the birds are purchased from pet stores by DIY brides and grooms. Often these birds are ring-necked doves or king pigeons — and because they are domestic, nearly all of them will die in the wild.
What happens to wedding doves left in the wild?
King pigeons, homing pigeons and ring-necked doves have no survival skills out in the wild, according to Palomacy. Thus, they will likely suffer and eventually die.
“The ‘dove release’ business perpetuates the idea that white birds can be ‘set free’ and they will just fly away and live happily ever after. Even under the best of circumstances, trained ‘wedding doves’ are hurt, lost and killed trying to get home,” the group’s website states.
“Never buy and release birds for weddings, funerals, prayers, blessings, as a ‘kind act’ or other ceremonies. White doves and other birds (like King Pigeons) sold to you have no survival skills and will suffer and die, bringing neither joy nor honor to any occasion. Releasing store-bought birds is both cruel and illegal.”
What are some animal-friendly alternatives to dove releases?
For couples looking to commemorate their special day in a unique way, there are plenty of alternative send-off ideas that don’t involve live animals.
TikToker @hannah.lylenephoto shared one couple’s colorful chalk idea, which resulted in some stunning wedding photos.
Another TikToker, @lindseysummerr, shared the super-fun (and super-wet) way she rang in her marriage to her hubby.
For couples looking to stay dry and chalk-free on their wedding, other cute alternatives include tossing lavender or dried petals/leaves, blowing bubbles, lighting sparklers or throwing beach balls.
No matter how couples choose to honor their commitment to one another, organizations like Palomacy beg people to rethink any gesture that involves live animals.
“We have to speak up for the birds because no one is listening to them. We strongly recommend against using these gentle, loyal birds in this uncaring way. … Please help educate people to how cruel and unfair this is to the birds.”
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