A distressing Tiktok video showing a pigeon trapped inside a vacant shop at Pakenham Marketplace has gone viral, drawing international attention.
The footage, originally posted by a concerned local woman, reveals the distressed bird desperately pecking at dust and an empty water bottle inside a vacant store.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, explained how the incident unfolded.
“It started when my friend and I found another pigeon outside that couldn’t fly. It had a string tied around its legs, so we cut it off and set it free,” she said.
“As we entered the shopping centre, I saw the other pigeon trapped inside a vacant shop eating dirt and dust leftover from renovation work the week before.
“The pigeon was very bloated, thirsty and hungry. Inside there was an empty water bottle and the pigeon kept knocking on it, trying to get water from there.
“When I saw that, I started crying. I was so upset I felt like breaking the shop door down, but I just couldn’t do it.”
She shook the door, creating a small gap through which she placed rice, seeds, and some water to help the bird survive.
The woman and friend then approached the management office seeking help. The manager claimed they couldn’t access the shop due to a lack of keys and appeared unwilling to take any action to assist.
A local qualified vet nurse, who wished to remain anonymous, questioned the claim that management had no master key for emergencies.
“The notion that your management allegedly refused access to the premises on the grounds that they “didn’t have a key“ is deeply troubling,” she said.
“If that was the case, why wasn’t the store owner contacted, or a locksmith arranged?
“If there was a fire in a vacant shop and security couldn’t access it, that would be a disaster waiting to happen.”
Pakenham Marketplace spokesperson said “while the pigeon is now safe and content and has rejoined two others in the common mall area, we acknowledge that we did not act swiftly enough when first notified”.
“This was an error in judgement, and we as Knight Frank Management accept full responsibility,” spokesperson said.
“We can assure our community we are also reviewing our internal processes to ensure future incidents regarding any forms of wildlife in the centre are handled with greater urgency and compassion.”
