A man who was heartbroken four years ago when animal control officials removed hundreds of pigeons - dead and alive - from inside his Torrance home died Monday in another house full of his favorite birds.
Gerald "Red" Enright Jr., 65, died at Torrance Memorial Medical Center a short time after paramedics responded to his home in the 100 block of Paseo de Suenos shortly before 9 a.m., Torrance city spokesman Michael Smith said.
Enright had complained of shortness of breath to a friend, who called 911 after finding him unconscious in the house, Torrance fire Capt. Steve Deuel said.
Firefighters had difficulty getting inside because of hoarding conditions, Smith said.
After treating Enright, firefighters found about 100 pigeons - some loose and others caged - in a rear bedroom. Animal control officers were called, but it was unclear if they removed the birds.
In October 2005, animal control officials removed 340 live and 120 dead pigeons from Enright's home on Via los Altos.
Most of the live birds were euthanized.
Enright said at the time that he had devoted himself to rescuing pigeons from man's ills, including poison and mistreatment. He admitted to operating on some birds, which initially drew the concern of animal control officials.
Nicknamed by friends as the Pigeon Man, Enright said he had treated 1,000 birds..." More
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