Important Email from Maggie Wright concerning laws to make it Illegal to own Parrots

[Lori~D]

I want to move to Australia.

[r2rusmc]

Folks I did get some clarification on this.

The email sent by the activist whackos was sent to Obama. That is the new information.

As for the book. Well she is a well respected author within the bird community. If she's added info in the book about the issue then good on her.

Don't know if I'd use that "drama" to promote a book but while I consider it "drama to sell a book" now, it is an issue that needs to be watched.

If we as pet owners give up one right now, that just lays the foundation for more given up later. If we give up our rights as owners to become "guardians" then the activists have won, not our beloved pets.

[Lori~D]

she's right - but Im still moving to Australia

[Ashling]

lol that's a load of sh*t! My thoughts exactly; what would happen to all the pet birds now who have loving, caring homes and who are part of the family?

I agree to a certain extant with this comment:

"At the very least that regulations be placed on cage sizes, number of birds percage, or even licenses to keep birds as pets. It seems to me to be far too easy for any one to buy a bird from a pet shop with no knowledge of bird welfare and no questions asked of that person about where the bird will be kept, etc"

But I don't know if Obama would concern himself with this while there's an economic crisis going on... plus the bigger issues like global warming etc.

[tamaran2]

Originally Posted by Lori~D

she's right - but Im still moving to Australia

Lori, maybe we haven't always seen eye to eye but I make a GREAT bird sitter, can I go with you.....

[odhinn]

I have been going through this type of garbage most of my adult life but on another issue. When the Feds started to come after gun owners it started out the same way. All the laws they want to pass or have passed only affect the law abiding citizens that were never a problem to begin with. If this garbage come to pass we just need to keep an eye on what is on the floor of congress. It always starts as a wacko that thinks their way of life or opinions are the only way to exist. Essentially a simple form of ethnocentrism or elitism. The only way this will gain speed is if we ignore it or run away from the issue. I am not against making unethical people toe the line and give their birds a nice life but that pertains to totally different laws that each individual state must pass.

Does anyone have any links to current federal legislature pertaining to this or similar issues that are on the floor now?
This is the site I have been watching
http://www.ccbirdclub.com/index_file...dandtheLaw.htm

[Monica]

*The New York Bird Club rallies for a law to be passed that would ban the sale of birds being kept as pets in the USA, as birds are being kept in cages too small to fly in for the majority of their lives, which in some cases is close to 100 years. It also contributes to the import of illegal bird types. Keeping birds is unnecessary and cruel.
We all can agree this is from the New York Bird Club. From the stories I've heard of the forum this doesn't surprise me in the least!

So lets put it into perspective. If we ban birds as pets, what are we to do with them? The most logical reasoning would be to euthanize them (rare species included) or ship them to out of country. I'm sure many people would rather give their birds a second chance rather than euthanization, so I wouldn't be surprised if many owners decided to toss their birds out the door, hoping against all hope the birds would learn to survive! If not this, then permits or licenses would be required to keep and/or breed birds. If we require a permit or license to own or keep birds, then we must put regulations on the keeping of them.


At the very least that regulations be placed on cage sizes, number of birds per cage, or even licences to keep birds as pets. It seems to me to be far too easy for any one to buy a bird from a pet shop with no knowledge of bird welfare and no questions asked of that person about where the bird will be kept, etc. If we can at least get our government to debate this subject, I do hope that some positive actions may be brought forward.*
[more from The New York Bird Club] Is this not the same way that dogs, cats, horses, lizards, and fish are bought? Without questions? Only if you've got the money?

Granted, there are more regulations on the keeping of dogs, cats, and horses than there are birds, fish, and perhaps reptiles, too. I am *NOT* for the ban of pet birds, however, I *AM* for more regulations. In all honesty, for everyone who is already doing a good job caring for their animals shouldn't be greatly affected by any new laws, however for those who are neglected their birds, it *WOULD* affect them. So where's the issue?

If you want to put it into comparison... you do not want regulations on parrot keeping, correct? That is, nothing to say whether a bird is being taken care of correctly or not. Nothing to say that this bird is just being neglected but that one over there is hands off but is otherwise being taken cared of as best as an owner can. What if parrots were humans? Our kids? Do we not call them our "feathered kids" or "feathered children"??? Do we not consider ourselves "parrot parents"??? So lets put it into perspective then. Are you then against regulations on raising kids? Against child abuse laws which are put into place to protect the children? We should not needs these laws in the first place, but when people abuse the right to care for those under their care, can you not agree we need these regulations put into place?


If you are an activist that is interested in establishing avian legislation, I encourage you to write back with the goal of banning the sale of birds or at the very least creating laws that will protect caged and petshop birds from abuse and neglect….
If I understand this correctly, this is from Maggie herself. I agree with her. I haven't read her book, but I agree. After reading most of Of Parrots and People by Mira Tweti (Commentary) I agree even more so about legislation!


These issues should be a concern to ALL of us Animal People. The last thing we need is to have the STATE come in and tell us what we can and cannot do with our birds, dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, and on. This is a constitutional rights issue that we must protect.
I assume this is from you, Tamaran. Please correct me if I'm wrong. If we think of these regulations as one would the child abuse laws, would you still disagree? Surely no one wants the state telling a parent how they can or cannot raise a child, correct? However, are the child abuse laws not put into place to protect children from abuse and neglect? What about the sale of unweaned chicks in California? I wonder how many people are for this, and how many against? I for one saw no problem with the law going into place! Sure, it made it harder on breeders to sell birds quickly, however, it was put into place to try and save chicks from being killed due to ignorant owners and handfeeders. Granted, people can easily go around this law by having an unweaned chick shipped to them, or driving out of state to buy an unweaned bird... but it still cuts down on impulse purchases made by unwary costumers buying parrots!

My new book has a very special chapter that talks about the differences between animal rights and animal welfare. It also walks the reader through WHY animal guardianship is a very bad idea for us pet owners and our precious companions. The more people that read it, the more people will have a more clear understanding of the issues. I believe that it may help some people who “think” they are for animal rights begin to understand the consequences of such actions.
More from Maggie... from reading this, I don't see it as an act of trying to sell her book, but as trying to *EDUCATE YOU* the owner. Sure, she could type out all that information again for us to read, but perhaps you'll learn more if you read the book! Anyone hear of the case of a doctor who wants his kidney back or $1.5 million in compensation? I read a couple replies about this from other bird owners. They were pissed, thinking the man wanted his wife dead. I looked for more articles on the subject, and in truth, from what I gather, it's nothing about the kidney donated to his wife to save her life, or about the money. He doesn't care!!! He just wants some costudy rights over his kids, so he can see them! What I gathered is that he wants a joint costudy, but his wife refuses! Yet, it is the wife who decided for a divorce when she cheated on her husband.

No, I don't see Maggie trying to *SELL* her book, I see her *TRYING* to educate *US* so we can have a better understanding on what's going on and perhaps how we can effect the lives of our birds, and all future birds. As they say, don't judge the cover! I wasn't interested in reading this book, but I have to say I am now.

Originally Posted by hobbit

Peta is where she belongs, peeps don't take them seriously anymore either!

You wanna take a bet on that??? I know of one person who SUPPORTS PETA, even knowing all about PETA and the illegal actions taken by some of their [PETA] members. {in which they get a slap on their hand and off they go!} Yes, even this person owns birds, and she still supports PETA. I wouldn't be surprised if I could find more people who support PETA, both ignorant [who will usually be more than glad to stop supporting if they knew what PETA was all about] and well informed people, who are *ALL* pet owners.

Originally Posted by Lori~D

I want to move to Australia.

I know you may not be serious about that [Hey, I'd love to move to Australia, too! Or perhaps Sweden!] but I do believe Australia has it's own set of regulations!!!! I don't know the laws that well, however certaion species do require permits or licenses to keep, which varies depending on the state. In Sweden, they have laws on how many birds can be kept together (i.e. no single birds if they are small species), must be kept in large cages/aviaries [that double macaw cage for say a B&G might be considered too small in Sweden!], and generally speaking they don't handraise the small species [don't know about the medium to larger parrots, though!]. There's laws in the UK and perhaps in England, too?

Government Laws
Bird Keeping Regulation Queensland
Keeping exotic birds in Australia
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiv...ping-guide.pdf


We can all go back to this [old - 2004!!!] thread...
A very good article on bird abuse....

Or how about this thread???
Aussie (and Other Non-American) Bird Owners


This isn't to start an argument, but perhaps maybe try and allow people to see things in another view??? People who do rescue and rehome may be in more agreement with regulations than those who are just "regular" owners because of the conditions and problems seen in many second hand birds.

[Abby]

Sorry to be the bearer of "bad" news but we're probably more regulated here in Australia then you guys are in the US.

I think Monica has covered most of them, haven't looked at the links properly but to add with natives there's a certain percentage that are on a yearly permit and you need to put in annual returns. The state where I live to legally have the purple crowned lorikeets I want I need a basic permit. If I prove myself to Parks and Wildlife then I may be able to get a specialist permit which will enable me to have black cockatoos.

I have to put in an annual form to Canberra each year saying that yep, I still have my amazon and grey. It's strongly advised to keep records for my conures, quakers and in theory my ringie and loves.

I would love to have a certain species of exotic tortoise. I'm not allowed to as we can't have exotic reptiles unless we're a licensed zoo. You never know my leopard tortoise may get out, travel the 200km plus up the highway to find another leopard tortoise that's escaped breed and destroy the environment.

Western Australia has a blanket no on a number of exotic birds due to concerns of environmental damage if they do get out. I believe CAGs are on this list.

In my state (yet again) legally I can only have 2 dogs that are companions. They are to be registered with local council (government) each year. If I want a 3rd dog then all neighbours must be consulted and an even higher registration fee paid for the third dog.

Gun laws are extremely tight. I don't know the exact laws as I don't have anything to with guns but forget anything automatic or semi. Not going to happen.

The list does go on but my oven timer has just binged so will leave you guys with that food for thought.

[PyscoFalcon]

Haha (sorry but had to giggle) England is part of the UK. (UK = England,Scotland,Wales and NI)

Anywho we can own any animal over here as long as you have the correct habitat and paperwork.

With CITIES 1 listed birds you just need paperwork from breeder/seller (who should have paperwork saying there allowed to sell them) and that's it.

CITIES 2 listed birds just can't leave the EU or some can't leave the UK.

You could even own a Tiger if you had a Dangeours Animal license (which to get you need to have the correct habitat on ample land that can't pose a threat to neighbouring bildings/people incase of escapees)

To work as a wildlife rescue you'll need a Wildlife rehab license.

Unfortunatly there's even no requirment any animal needs to see the vet every year for check ups - it's just recommended (this also goes for vacinations - purely volentary)

[Monica]

Abby, thanks for that! It's one reason why I wouldn't mind living in Australia! (or another country that has regulations on pet keepings - so long as it means better care for those animals!)

PsycoFalcon, I was trying to think of a specific place where you have to do a questionaire before they would consider you for owning a bird.... and after you do it, they'll allow a larger bird.... can't really remember where it was though... was probably a different country....