Has anyone had White Doves released at their wedding, or any other occasion?

Question

Are they trained to come back, or are they just allowed their freedom?

I have always wanted to know this.

If they're allowed to just fly off into the never-never, so to speak, why do we rarely see White Doves?

Answer 1

It's a cruel practice IMO....as well as butterfly releases.....and a self-indulgent practice at an animals expense....

white doves are a white variety of pidgeon...they are domestic and cannot survive in the wild....if they get lost, can't find their way home as homing pidgeons do, or land and get attacked by a predator ( neighbourhood cat), well how wonderfully romantic is that? It seem an exploitation of a helpless animal just for the 'look'...really, how humane is that?

Answer 2

I think if anything's going to be released, it should be balloons.  Or they could take up offering at the ceremony to raise money to help injured wild animals so one day they can be released back into their natural habitat.

Answer 3

Whether they come back or not depends on the vendor you choose.  Some take the time to train them others don't.

You don't see many of them around town because they usually don't have any natural defenses in the area they are let loose in, like the benefit of blending in since they are white.  They are also farm raised and don't know how to fend for themselves so they starve if they aren't eaten by something else.  Not to mention it's been more than once I've seen a guest pooped on by the dove.

Personally I think brides should skip animal releases of any kind.

Answer 4

Most of the time, they fly off, but remain close enough for capture. The rest fly off and die. They are domesticated, so don't know how to hunt for food. Periodically, if you look under bridges and other places pidgeons group, you will see a few white doves. In my area, they die once it gets cold, although they become food for other animals elsewhere.  I think this is terrible cruelty to animals and the practice should be abolished.  And to think, these folks then go on against hunting!

Answer 5

releasing white doves is cruel. the reason you don't see them in the wild is because they starve to death within days of release since they do not know how to hunt for food.

Answer 6

WHITE DOVES are actually homing pigeons, they are trained to come back to their keeper or the place where they live. REAL doves are not usually smart enough to be trained.

They are usually owned by a person who trains them and feeds them and they are not used to living in the wild. Granted, some probably get lost but they mostly know how to find their way back.

I know for a fact that some keepers have them as pets.

Answer 7

Yes, but I didn't eat no cake.