A Penticton, B.C., man says he was shocked to see a pigeon with a paper hat glued on its head and a large bell on its neck near his home this week.

Gary McDougall says he spotted the pigeon on his neighbour's roof on Saturday morning and took some photos of the lone bird before it flew off.

"It's cruelty to animals regardless of what kind of joke people think it is," McDougall said Thursday.

McDougall, a video production worker, says the bird was missing its tail feathers and appeared to have been painted red. But it still appeared to be capable of flying.

The pigeon had a piece of paper glued to its head and a large bell that could've also been glued, he said.

McDougall says he first saw the bird about 10 days ago with the paper stuck to its head but he thought it was a tea bag or some other piece of garbage until he saw it later with the bell on its neck.

"It could very well be like having a bowling ball around your neck and having to maneuver. It makes it pretty difficult," McDougall said.

The SPCA is investigating.