LONDON, ONT. — The founder of bankrupt Pigeon King International is challenging a move to push him into personal bankruptcy.

Lawyer Steven Gadbois told the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Bankruptcy and Insolvency today that Arlan Galbraith is challenging a bankruptcy application filed last month by Jim Wiersma, a former pigeon breeder who says Galbraith owes him almost $23,000.

A hearing will be held in London next week to set a date in January for a full hearing on Galbraith’s motion to set aside the bankruptcy application.

Pigeon King International, a Waterloo-based company that sold pairs of breeding pigeons to farmers, declared bankruptcy in July with debts totalling close to $40 million. Galbraith, who recruited about 1,000 farmers to raise pigeon breeding stock that Pigeon King would buy back, said he was developing a market for pigeon meat. However, critics said Galbraith was running a pyramid scheme.

In an affidavit filed with his application, Wiersma, of Fisherville, Ont., said he entered a personal contract with Galbraith to sell him breeding stock in 2006.