Every now and then, something happens in pigeon sport that stops you in your tracks. A moment that hits you right in the heart. Because someone finally dares to say out loud what so many fanciers have been whispering for years. This week, that moment came when I read the honest and passionate statement from Kris Cleirbaut.
And you know what? I felt relief. Relief that someone is finally standing up — not for their own glory, not for power — but for our pigeons. Now let’s be real: Kris is no wallflower. He speaks his mind, in his own way. Sometimes a bit quirky, a bit bold. But this time… he is absolutely right.
🚨 Why Kris left WAD
For those who missed it: Kris was a member of the WAD group — a working group within the Belgian pigeon sport, supposedly there to protect the interests of the fanciers. But the moment Kris began asking tough questions — about pigeon welfare, transport practices, heat protocols — things changed.
His concerns were brushed aside. Suddenly, his seat was filled by… the national chairman himself. Coincidence? Maybe. But it sent a painful signal.
Kris didn’t stay silent. He exposed a series of shocking practices — things that we all know are happening, yet few dare to address:
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Water trays per basket: from 2 in 2024 to just 1 in 2025… even as the temperatures soar.
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Baskets stacked way too high, far above allowed limits.
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Transport trucks without proper ventilation, or with air intakes that are intentionally blocked.
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Spoilers stopping fresh air. Mechanical systems failing when the vehicle is at a standstill.
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Vents and roof rosters that exist just for show, sealed off and useless.
And most disturbing of all? Zero accountability. No heat protocols made public. No inspection reports. No answers. Just silence.
🧾 Enough is enough, Kris decided to take action.
- No more emails. No more closed doors.
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He called in a bailiff to officially document what’s really going on.
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That’s not sabotage — that’s necessary.
Because when everything else fails, transparency is the last resort. And if someone has to make noise to protect the sport we love — so be it.
Let’s be very clear:
📢 Fighting for the welfare of our pigeons does NOT make you an enemy of the sport. Quite the opposite.
❤️ Our pigeons deserve better
We invest in our pigeons day in, day out. We train them. Breed them. Care for them like they’re family. And then… one weekend in a transport truck, and they’re gone. Vanished. Never returned.
That is not the sport we believe in. And it’s the smaller fanciers who suffer most.
Those who can’t afford dozens of backup birds.
Those who love their pigeons like children.
Those who are powerless against the politics and profits of “the big boys”.
🤝 Time for real change
What Kris is doing makes some people uncomfortable.
He’s exposing flaws. Ringing the alarm bells.
And yes — that ruffles feathers.
But I’d rather face an uncomfortable truth than live a comfortable lie.
Because if no one speaks up, nothing changes.
I stand with him. And I know many of you do too. Not because he’s perfect. But because he’s right. And because it’s long overdue that the welfare of the pigeon is put FIRST again.
🙏 In closing…
To every true fancier reading this:
- Let’s stop whispering in the corners.
- Let’s stop pretending everything is fine.
- Let’s rise, like Kris and follow him on his Facebook (Click Here>>>)
For the pigeons | For the sport | For the future.
With fire and true love for our pigeons
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
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