PETA protests pigeon racing outside Tyson's Nevada home

Mike Tyson has kept pigeons since childhood.

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HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals demonstrated outside Mike Tyson's suburban home to protest the former boxing champion's role in pigeon racing.

Henderson police spokesman Todd Rasmussen said Tuesday the PETA demonstration on Monday outside Tyson's gated hillside neighborhood was peaceful.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that some of the 20 protesters carried signs reading, "Featherweights: No match for a Heavyweight," and "Mike doesn't give pigeons a fighting chance."

An attempt to reach Tyson through his wife on Tuesday was not successful.

Tyson has been a pigeon racing breeder and fan since childhood in Brooklyn, N.Y.

PETA's Lisa Lange says the protest followed Sunday night's debut of the Animal Planet show, "Taking on Tyson." It features Tyson competing with pigeon racers in the New York City area.

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