Please don't chase the pigeons

You know how when you go to the train station or the bus station or just generally any public space that pigeons can fly into there are signs saying not to feed them. Why are there no signs saying not to chase them?

Now I am guilty of chasing pigeons as a child I won't lie and say I'm a saint but as I've gotten older I find it aggravating me. Let me tell you a story.

I was sat in the train station (I know, I know a lot of my stories start this way) and I was just watching the world go by. Now to my right is a mother on the phone and with her she has a small daughter. Her daughter decides it would be super duper fun to chase the pigeons around my chair. So what do the pigeons do? They run away of course and flap about. The pigeons flapping about doesn't bother me at all but the little girl does.

Here's the thing. This little girl was chasing the pigeons by running at them, kicking towards them and hissing at them. The pigeon obviously ran away because it is scared of her.I would be too if a giant came running towards me like that. Now this girl doesn't just leave the pigeon alone once it flies away. Oh no! She chases it around the large platform because to her this is oh so very fun.

Now you're all probably thinking 'For goodness sake Sophie it's just a pigeon!' but let me change my story. Let's replace pigeon with the word dog. The story now goes as follows:

The little girl was chasing the dogs by running at them, kicking towards them and hissing at them.

Suddenly everyone is up in arms because that is disgraceful behaviour! How dare someone let their child do that! The dog is clearly running away because it is scared. So why don't we feel the same way about the pigeon? Is it because the pigeon isn't cute and fluffy? Is it because very few people keep them as pets? Or is it because the general public sees the humble pigeon as dirty vermin?

I have one little plea. Please don't chase the pigeons. It isn't very kind.

Have a great day everyone,

Sophie