Prized pigeon Bob who made accidental round the world trip reunited with Gateshead owner

A prized pigeon has been reunited with its owner after it ended up in Alabama on his way back to Gateshead.

Bob the homing pigeon set off from Guernsey and was expected home within 8 to 10 hours.

Weeks later his owner, Alan Todd, received an email to say that Bob was thousands of miles away in an animal shelter in Alabama.

The Monroe County Animal Shelter had been called to help deal with a pigeon who would not leave a man’s home.

Staff checked Bob's microchip and were shocked to find he was from the UK.

Mr Todd said: “You start fearing the worst. Has he been killed by a bird of prey? Has he gone into another pigeon man’s loft?

“If you’d seen the state of him the first time I saw a photograph of him, it was quite upsetting actually, because he looked really down in the dumps.”

It is thought that Bob might have caught a lift on a cruise liner or an oil tanker to arrive, 4,300 miles away from home, in Alabama.

Mr Todd began fundraising to get Bob back. His story received plenty of media attention and the pigeon fancier was even flown to America first class for free.

Although he had to pay for a $470 vet bill while in America, the rest of his expenses were covered by various organisations who wanted to lend a hand.

Mr Todd said: “Four-hundred-and-seventy dollars seemed quite a cheap price to pay to get him back.”

The remaining $2,000 he had raised was donated to Monroe County Animal Shelter.

Bob had to go through quarantine and various tests to ensure he didn’t bring Avian Flu back with him and receive his import license from APHA.

Since arriving back on Tyneside on Friday (29 July), Mr Todd has been doing his best to make sure Bob is back to his usual self.

“He didn’t look very well to be truthful. Now you wouldn’t think he’d been away," added Mr Todd. "He’s put his weight back on very quickly.

“The first thing I did was put a bath on for the pigeons and he was the first one in the bath.

“His condition's not there yet like the rest of the racing pigeons - the water just runs off them but he was soaked, his feathers were soaked.

“But I looked at him this morning and you can see his chest he’s looking a lot better already. Another week and you’ll not recognise him.”

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