From Veterinary Nurse to National Pigeon Advocate

My journey into the world of animal advocacy began not with a single defining moment, but through a series of deeply transformative experiences that shaped both my understanding of compassion and my calling to act. From the sterile precision of veterinary surgery rooms to the emotional depths of wildlife rescue, my path has always been driven by one simple but powerful belief — that every life matters.

Early Career: A Life in Veterinary Nursing

I began my professional journey as a Registered Veterinary Nurse, working in veterinary practices across the UK. These were formative years, filled with long days, countless patients, and the immense privilege of helping animals heal. Veterinary nursing taught me not only the technical skills of medical care but also the emotional intelligence required to guide clients through some of the hardest decisions of their lives. I learned that the human-animal bond is one of the most profound connections there is — and that compassion, both for animals and their people, is at the heart of true happiness.

Entrepreneurial Beginnings: Creating the UK’s First Indoor Dog Daycare

In 2010, driven by a desire to improve the welfare and happiness of dogs spending long days alone while their guardians worked, I founded the UK’s first indoor dog daycare facility. This was an ambitious and challenging project — there were no existing templates or regulations for such a business model.

At the time, councils had no idea how to license a dog daycare. I found myself navigating endless bureaucracy, challenging outdated regulations, and working with local authorities to develop the UK’s first-ever licence for an indoor dog daycare centre — a framework that is still used by councils today.

Those years were a masterclass in resilience and advocacy. I learned how to fight for animals within systems not designed to prioritise them, how to balance business with ethics, and how to educate officials and the public on animal welfare in a professional and persuasive way.

A Life-Altering Accident and a New Direction

After six successful years, life took an unexpected turn. An accident left me temporarily unable to walk, forcing me to close the business I had poured my heart into. Losing the daycare was devastating, but it became one of the most transformative chapters of my life.

During my recovery, I had time — for the first time in years — to pause and reflect. I realised that while I had devoted my life to companion animals, there were other creatures — voiceless, vulnerable, and largely ignored — who needed advocates too.

When I recovered, I returned to veterinary practice, this time working as both a surgical and client liaison nurse. It was here that my worldview began to evolve in profound ways.

Seeds of Compassion: Discovering My Love for Birds

In veterinary practice, I began to notice something deeply moving. Almost daily, members of the public would arrive clutching an injured or sick wild bird, their faces filled with hope and worry. These were people who had stopped what they were doing — often in the middle of their busy lives — to save a life they didn’t “own.”

Yet, time and again, I watched their expressions turn from compassion to heartbreak when they were told that the practice couldn’t treat wild birds, or that “it’s just a pigeon.”

Those moments stayed with me. I began to question how society decides which lives are worth saving and which are not. I started to see the compassion in people’s hearts — and the cruelty in the systems that had taught them to devalue certain species.

That was the beginning of a shift that would change everything. It was during this period that I became vegan, aligning my actions with my ethics and embracing a philosophy of kindness to all beings.

And it was here that my deep love and respect for pigeons began to take root.

The Birth of Little Green Pigeon

Unable to ignore what I was seeing, I founded Little Green Pigeon, a sanctuary dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming injured, sick, and orphaned pigeons.

What started as a small effort grew rapidly. The sanctuary became a refuge for hundreds of birds — each one with a story. Some were victims of racing or cruelty; others were simply city pigeons who had suffered injury or illness and needed a safe place to recover.

By 2018, the sanctuary’s needs had outgrown my ability to self-fund. I left veterinary practice to run it full-time and formally established Little Green Pigeon C.I.C. (Community Interest Company) — a not-for-profit organisation with a dual purpose: to fundraise for the care of pigeons and to educate the public about these misunderstood and remarkable birds.

Through social media, I began sharing the stories of individual pigeons, teaching people about their intelligence, loyalty, and gentle nature. I explained why so many pigeons live on our streets, and how their presence is not a nuisance but a reflection of human choices — our architecture, our food waste, and our abandonment of domesticated birds.

Over time, Little Green Pigeon became more than a sanctuary; it became a movement. It inspired thousands to see pigeons differently, to open their eyes to the cruelty of pigeon racing and pest control, and to understand that compassion must extend to all animals, not just the “cute” or the “popular.”

Challenges and Relocation: The Next Chapter

After many years of sanctuary work, we lost the land on which Little Green Pigeon was based. It was one of the hardest experiences of my life. However, I refused to see it as an ending. Instead, I chose to adapt and evolve.

I relocated to Wales, where I launched a pigeon-themed gift shop and website, designed not only to fund the ongoing care of our rehomed sanctuary birds (whose costs we still cover) but also to keep spreading the message of compassion and advocacy.

It was during this period that my work began to expand beyond rescue — into systemic change and public education. I realised that while direct care saves individual lives, long-term change requires legislation, collaboration, and public awareness.

I began speaking publicly about pigeon welfare, guesting on BBC Radio whenever a pigeon-related story broke in the news, and using every platform available to me to correct misinformation and amplify the truth.

Becoming a Voice for Pigeons

By 2024, I had transitioned fully into the role of Pigeon Advocate — working to raise awareness of pigeon welfare issues nationally. My work was no longer limited to rescue; it was about representation, reform, and creating a new narrative for pigeons within our society.

I became an ambassador for pigeons, dedicated to replacing ignorance with education and cruelty with compassion.

The Birth of the National Pigeon Advocacy Association

In January 2025, I founded the National Pigeon Advocacy Association (NPAA) — the first organisation of its kind in the world, dedicated solely to improving the lives of pigeons through advocacy, education, and policy change.

The NPAA’s mission is bold and far-reaching. Within three years, I aim to transition it into a registered charity, with several key objectives:

To work with councils across the UK to replace lethal pigeon control with humane, evidence-based management strategies such as contraception, controlled feeding, and public education.

To establish a national network of rehabilitators, ensuring that every pigeon in need — from racing victims to urban injured — has access to care.

To create a funding platform allowing individuals or sanctuaries caring for pigeons to quickly and easily apply for financial support.

To campaign relentlessly for a full UK ban on pigeon racing, a multimillion-pound blood sport that exploits and kills millions of birds each year.

The NPAA embodies the next evolution of my life’s work — moving from rescue to reform, from sanctuary to systemic advocacy.

Making History: The World’s First Pigeon Advocacy Conference

In September 2025, just eight months after founding the NPAA, I organised and hosted the world’s first-ever Pigeon Advocacy Conference — a landmark event that brought together veterinary professionals, rehabilitators, animal rights campaigners, and vegan advocates under one roof.

The conference was more than a gathering; it was a historic milestone for pigeon welfare. For the first time, experts and activists united to discuss not only how to save pigeons but how to transform their place in society. Topics ranged from the ethics of pigeon racing and the mental health of rehabilitators, to effective advocacy and humane coexistence strategies.

The response was overwhelming — a testament to the growing global recognition that pigeons deserve respect, protection, and compassion. The success of the event ensured that it will now be held annually, with the next conference scheduled for October 2026.

A Vision for the Future

My mission — and the mission of the organisations I’ve founded — is clear: to change the way the world sees pigeons.

I believe that progress for animals comes not only from passionate individuals but from communities united by compassion and guided by science. The work ahead is vast — from challenging government policy and ending blood sports, to building networks of care and fostering empathy in the next generation.

But I also believe that every change begins with a conversation, a story, or a single act of kindness — like the person who stops in the street to rescue a wounded bird. Those moments matter. They are the foundation of the movement we are building.

Reflection

Looking back on my journey — from veterinary nurse to sanctuary founder, and now national advocate — I see that every challenge has led me exactly where I was meant to be.

The accident that changed my life gave me time to discover my purpose. The heartbreak of losing land taught me resilience. And every pigeon I’ve met has shown me that true beauty lies not in perfection, but in perseverance.

Pigeons are survivors. They are intelligent, loyal, and remarkable beings who have shared our cities and our history for centuries. Yet they are also among the most misunderstood and mistreated animals in the world.

That is why I will continue to fight for them — in parliament, in the press, and in the hearts of the public — until compassion replaces cruelty, and pigeons are given the protection and respect they deserve.

Conclusion

My life’s work is built upon one enduring truth: kindness is powerful. It transforms lives, systems, and societies.

From a veterinary nurse with a dream, to the founder of a National advocacy movement — my journey has been guided by love, loss, and the unwavering belief that no life is too small to matter.

As the National Pigeon Advocacy Association grows, I remain committed to building a compassionate world — one where pigeons are no longer vilified, where sanctuaries are supported, and where our shared humanity extends to every being with wings.

Because when we stand up for the most overlooked, we create a world that is kinder for all.