Veterinarians from Málaga and Estepa are taking care of the pigeons that will be released this afternoon.

The Most Holy Virgin of La Paloma celebrates a century under this name, doing so with the traditional release of birds. It was in 1926 when one of these birds perched on the hands of the statue and remained with it. Since then, they have been inseparable, and many of them continue to take flight in the city center, also as a "symbol of peace" during Holy Wednesday. Of course, under the care of expert veterinarians, from their private breeding in Estepa (Seville) where they come from, to their release in Málaga, with the selfless collaboration of the Official College of Veterinarians of the province.

"We veterinarians who are brothers of the brotherhood feel truly honored that these animals accompany the Virgin in her processional journey and also with a responsibility to ensure they do not suffer any mistreatment, we look after their health and welfare. The Virgin has a great significance, she is the only one in Málaga that has an animal as her invocation, the dove, and we are very proud of that link between the college and the brotherhood of La Paloma," highlights Juan Antonio de Luque, president of the Official College of Veterinarians of the province of Málaga and Honorary Elder Brother of the Brotherhood of La Puente and La Paloma.

Packed in twenty boxes, and five by five, the doves arrived at the brotherhood around two in the afternoon. From there, they were distributed in groups of 25 at four points in the historic center where they will be released during the procession: the Plaza de San Francisco (starting point of the procession); the Tribuna de los Pobres (housed in the tribuna hotel until their release); the official tribune located at the Plaza de la Constitución; and at the Cathedral, to be ready as they pass through the Plaza del Obispo.

In doing so, at all times De Luque ensures they are kept with "water and food", in a "quiet" space with little noise until they are released onto the streets by the veterinarians themselves without being "stressed". Some of them, brothers of the brotherhood, and others as collaborators, with a link established for 20 years between the College of Veterinarians of Málaga and more closely for the past three years since the approval of the Animal Welfare Law.

"They come from Estepa, they are doves from a breeding far from the city of Málaga. Some that are released early will return home and those that are released later will spend the night in the city of Málaga and then return. At their place of origin, veterinarians have controlled their vaccination against various infectious diseases. Also, they have been dewormed and come all identified, tagged with their corresponding livestock movement guide issued by the Territorial Delegation of Agriculture of the Junta Andalucía," details the president of the veterinary institution of Málaga, who also refers to a report specifying that the specimens cannot participate in the procession if they had been diagnosed with avian flu in the previous 30 days.

A century-old tradition

With the subsequent release of the birds, a tradition that originated in 1926 is once again fulfilled, as explained by the elder brother of the Brotherhood of La Puente and La Paloma, Diego Hermoso. It all started when a year earlier, in 1925, the then Dolorosa Virgin was in a processional parade and "someone released a dove": "It went to her hands, she had them together and despite the swaying of the throne, it remained with her. Upon reaching the temple, it was still with the Virgin, and the next morning of Holy Thursday, when the brothers came, it was still next to the statue," he recounts, adding that the name was acquired the following year, on March 14, after a suggestion by a young brother who wondered if the Virgin "would like to be called that way" after the event.

"The Virgin was titled with the beautiful invocation of Most Holy Mary of La Paloma. From that moment, there is a tradition of releasing doves as her throne passes. We are very eager to start, the countdown has just begun," he insists.

In this sense, the essence is maintained and what changes with Law 7/2023, on the rights and welfare of animals, is, in addition to the number of doves released, the fact of being "more respectful, more careful", without the birds passing through the hands of "people who used to come to collect them" to release them during the procession.

"You can see the excitement of the citizens. There are many people who release a dove out of a feeling they have for a family member who is no longer here or asking for healing. The dove signifies peace. In these times we are experiencing war globally, especially now that in one way or another our country is also being affected collaterally, the release of that dove, which Picasso painted in the Plaza de la Merced, signifies the hope for peace. Also, for many people from Málaga seeing how that dove is released and seeks freedom, that feeling that we can all achieve a better world," concludes De Luque.