Pigeon King responds to Iowa

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

© AgMedia Inc.

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

On Dec. 13, the Iowa Attorney General’s office warned investors to be wary of Pigeon King International’s business practices and issued a civil investigative demand that says, in part, that “Pigeon King International business practices may be violating the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act and the Iowa Business Opportunities Law, including misleading consumers regarding the true viability of establishing several large pigeon processing plants within a time frame that would allow the business opportunity marketed by the respondent [Pigeon King International] to have a legitimate independent business purpose” other than “providing inventory for new growers in furtherance of a ‘Ponzi’ type of investment scheme.”

Following the Dec. 13 press release, Pigeon King International and its founder, Arlan Galbraith, were featured in media reports across Canada and in some U.S. states. Galbraith, who charges breeders up to $500 for a pair of breeding pigeons in return for a guarantee to buy back all offspring for 10 years, says that he is currently building his inventory and will construct processing plants once he has enough birds. He told CBC television that he currently has about 700 breeders in the United States and Canada.

Better Farming featured Pigeon King International in a cover story published Dec. 1. Company founder Arlan Galbraith, who declined an interview with Better Farming at the time, promised to respond with a letter to the editor to correct any errors. On Dec. 5, PKI representative Shelley Mason sent an email to publisher Paul Nolan citing only one objection. She claimed that one of the people quoted in the article was operating a “Front for Extortion.” (sic)

Better Farming was unable to confirm Mason’s allegation with authorities contacted. The individual named denied it. BF