Woman rescues injured pigeon from pub, internet names her Penny; the emotional story wins hearts
Aradhana Jha | TimesPets Bureau | Mar 18, 2026, 15:01 IST
Woman rescues injured pigeon from pub, internet names her Penny; the emotional story wins hearts
A heartwarming animal rescue story shared in The Guardian by Hannah Hall has captured the attention of thousands of readers online. Hannah shared her experience of how her encounter with an injured pigeon in the garden of a pub transformed into an incredible bond that has lasted over a year and inspired her to assist birds in need.
A heartwarming animal rescue story shared in The Guardian by Hannah Hall has captured the attention of thousands of readers online. Hannah shared her experience of how her encounter with an injured pigeon in the garden of a pub transformed into an incredible bond that has lasted over a year and inspired her to assist birds in need.
According to Hannah, the experience occurred a few years ago when she was in the garden of a pub, sipping her beer, when she saw a scruffy little pigeon perch itself on the bench close to her location. However, the pigeon took some minutes before it slowly moved closer and perched itself on her lap. A waitress later told her that the pigeon had entered the pub, but some people kicked it to try and scare it away. The pigeon was very young and weak, and Hannah thought it would not live for long.
Hannah did not know what to do with the bird, so she made videos, uploading them onto the internet, asking people what they thought she should do with the bird. The video went viral, with people becoming attached to the pigeon that Hannah had rescued. The internet even voted on what the pigeon’s name should be, with the most popular choice being Penny.
To keep Penny safe, Hannah decided to build a small aviary in the garden, as well as a large cage in her bedroom for nights. Penny was her constant companion, often perched on Hannah’s shoulders as she got ready or on her lap as she was petted. Hannah also trained Penny to respond to flashcards and spin around. On the anniversary of Penny’s rescue, Hannah decided to celebrate Penny’s “birthday” by baking a small bread cake in the shape of a Victoria sponge.
Hannah claims that her life was completely transformed by the experience of taking care of Penny, as she never felt lonely with her by her side. The story of Hannah and her late bird has inspired many animal lovers across the world, as it serves as a reminder of the potential of even the most common animals to form incredible relationships with mankind.
Celebrate the bond with your pets, explore Health & Nutrition, discover Breeds, master Training Tips, Behavior Decoder, and set out on exciting Travel Tails with Times Pets!
According to Hannah, the experience occurred a few years ago when she was in the garden of a pub, sipping her beer, when she saw a scruffy little pigeon perch itself on the bench close to her location. However, the pigeon took some minutes before it slowly moved closer and perched itself on her lap. A waitress later told her that the pigeon had entered the pub, but some people kicked it to try and scare it away. The pigeon was very young and weak, and Hannah thought it would not live for long.
Hannah did not know what to do with the bird, so she made videos, uploading them onto the internet, asking people what they thought she should do with the bird. The video went viral, with people becoming attached to the pigeon that Hannah had rescued. The internet even voted on what the pigeon’s name should be, with the most popular choice being Penny.
To keep Penny safe, Hannah decided to build a small aviary in the garden, as well as a large cage in her bedroom for nights. Penny was her constant companion, often perched on Hannah’s shoulders as she got ready or on her lap as she was petted. Hannah also trained Penny to respond to flashcards and spin around. On the anniversary of Penny’s rescue, Hannah decided to celebrate Penny’s “birthday” by baking a small bread cake in the shape of a Victoria sponge.
Hannah claims that her life was completely transformed by the experience of taking care of Penny, as she never felt lonely with her by her side. The story of Hannah and her late bird has inspired many animal lovers across the world, as it serves as a reminder of the potential of even the most common animals to form incredible relationships with mankind.
Celebrate the bond with your pets, explore Health & Nutrition, discover Breeds, master Training Tips, Behavior Decoder, and set out on exciting Travel Tails with Times Pets!