Helpless Glasgow pigeon trapped on west end shopfront rescued by firefighters

Emergency services came to the aid of a pigeon who became stuck on a west end shopfront on Thursday night.

Firefighters climbed ladders to free the bird after it became stuck above Roots, Fruits & Flowers on Great Western Road in Kelvinbridge around 9pm. The stricken bird was spotted by Nune Molina, who was walking her dog along the busy road when she heard a flapping noise from above.

“My dog got scared and I looked up and saw the pigeon and looked like it was stuck,” she told Glasgow Live. The pigeon appeared to be caught by its foot and was attempting to free itself to no avail.

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“It was too painful to watch the pigeon hang by a leg,” said Nune, who was “clueless” as to what to do, messaging friends on Facebook to see if anyone had a ladder she could borrow.

“I just couldn’t leave the poor wee pigeon hanging like that in pain. So I kept trying.”

Nune called the SSPCA, but found the phonelines were closed. She said: “In a very naive way, I remembered that firefighters sometimes rescue animals from trees — usually cats, not pigeons — but I felt they could guide me better on what to do.

Nune called Maryhill Fire Station, saying they were ‘very understanding’ but told her she would have to call 999.

“Unfortunately the 999 person I spoke on the phone hang up on me after explaining it was a pigeon,” said Nune. “I was actually a bit embarrassed as I felt they will definitely think I’m a bit crazy to ask for help for a wee pigeon.”

As Nune stood on the pavement watching the helpless pigeon and running out of ideas as to how to help, a fire engine arrived. She said: “It was the happiest time.

“I was so relieved and surprised they showed up. It definitely made my night.”

The firefighters shuffled up ladders and managed to free the pigeon without damaging the stricken bird’s leg. “The pigeon was scared and flapping,” said Nune, adding: “The firefighters did an amazing job and rescued it just fine.”

Nune added: “I know they didn’t need to come help a wee pigeon, but the fact that they did brought so much joy and was so heartwarming. I’m from Bolivia and growing up we would get animals stuck on trees or hurt in the road and with my family we would always help them, so I have this connection to nature that is quite engrained.

“When I didn’t know how to help the wee pigeon I was quite distressed and couldn’t be more thankful for the firefighters to do such a nice gesture for the wee pigeon.”

Glasgow Live has approached the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for comment.

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