Southampton man campaigns to help pigeons with painful foot condition

Summarised from BBC Hampshire's report · Updated 23 Oct, 07:15 · Archive

Dexter Mathurine is raising awareness of stringfoot, a painful condition affecting pigeons caused by human hair and thread becoming wrapped around their feet.

Dexter Mathurine from Southampton, known on social media as Dexter the Pigeon Guy, is campaigning to improve treatment of pigeons and raise awareness of stringfoot, a painful condition caused when human hair, thread or twine becomes wrapped around a bird's toes or ankles. The condition causes deformities and can lead to pigeons losing their feet or dying.

Mathurine began helping pigeons after catching his first bird with stringfoot. He said: 'I cut the string free, released it, had a big cry because it was so emotional and then I was like, great, this is what I do now. I'm going to help the pigeons.' He now spends his spare time, often between work shifts, helping injured pigeons in Southampton. People who find an injured bird can contact him for help or advice.

Mathurine walks among pigeons in the city centre looking for birds needing assistance, and documents his work treating stringfoot on Instagram.

Read the report

• De-string the birds! Why pigeons deserve more kindnessDexter Mathurine, or Dexter the Pigeon Guy, is on a mission to change how pigeons are seen.BBC Hampshire · 23 Oct, 05:59

In this story: Dexter Mathurine · Southampton · Bargate

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem