Re: [Media-advisors] Fwd: Working Group Update July 23 11PM

Yay! On Sat, Jul 24, 2010 at 3:49 PM, Elizabeth Young wrote:

FYI

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Elizabeth Young Date: Sat, Jul 24, 2010 at 3:44 PM Subject: Re: Working Group Update July 23 11PM To: Philip Gerrie Cc: harris.rose@att.net, Sally Stephens , saveABunny@aol.com, Pam Hemphill , Kim Flaherty < kflaherty@pacbell.net>, "Elliot M. Katz DVM"

Hello-

Regarding the video of Dana Strome's Wing Foundation, while there are a number of red flags seen in the video (unsafe bar-spacing, lack of toys/enrichment features, galvanized wire cage, birds outside unsafely unharnassed), Mickaboo does not want to speculate on the care or current condition of anyone's birds based on a video.

And below are some responses from Mickaboo leaders regarding which birds to include in the ban (in short, Mickaboo favors banning the sale of all pet birds).

*It's important to remember here that Mickaboo is supporting a ban on the retail sale of birds in SF - not the ownership of birds. Because of this detail, it's relatively moot which bird species make good pets vs bad pets in context of the ban. We're supporting the ban of ALL retail sales of birds as pets.* ** *I'd like to point out here that about 50% of our surrenders come from Cockatiels and Budgies - two of the species that make 'good choices' as detailed in your question. Although they're considered much more domesticated than some of the other birds such as conures, the question of retail sales isn't about "Domestic vs Wild". It's about "Impulse buy vs careful consideration".* ** *That fact is that half of our surrenders (Budgies and Tiels) are brought to us because they were bought on impulse, sold VERY cheaply by the pet seller as a loss-leader for more expensive pet supplies - and then the family realized that even domestic, small parrots can be demanding and noisy, or can get sick and require veterinary care. Often, even a simple routine veterinary checkup can exceed the initial cost of the bird, and that surprises many impulse buyers.* ** *Finally, I should point out that SF and many other cities have banned the retail sale of cats and dogs long ago - and those two species of animal have been domesticated far longer than any of the parrot species.*

And

*Matt's points are the essential ones, and forcefully put. In addition, it is maybe worth pointing out that "parakeets" (budgies), cockatiels, and lovebirds ARE exotic parrot species (since that's where HSUS would draw the line). They have the same, complex needs for social interaction and stimulation as larger parrots; they suffer the same emotional traumas from confinement and deprivation and show similar stereotypic behavioral responses, such as self-mutilation. While there are important differences in the specific needs of parrots versus passerines (e.g., finches and canaries), all birds suffer from isolation and confinement, and pet stores sell these birds as individuals with tiny cages. The fact finches and canaries are smaller, quieter, and anatomically less-capable of self-mutilation, biting, or screaming does not mean they live happily in such conditions - just that they may be less capable of expressing their misery in ways we easily perceive. * ** *Regarding the "long history" of selective breeding, what is noteworthy is that it has not been long enough to produce anything like a true domestic animal in terms of tameness. Canaries, budgies, and cockatiels, though they have been bred for a few centuries, are still essentially wild animals. Captive breeding has helped to isolate and select for such features as color or, in the case of canaries, song. Reducing the gene pool has created weaker populations - shorter-lived individuals prone to more diseases. And selecting for such features further promotes the idea of these small birds as being primarily decorative, instead of the complex, intelligent creatures with complex needs we know them to be.*

And

This e-mail contains some upsetting information but I think it's important for everyone to know these things in order to get a feel for how important it is to try to protect the smaller species, too. When I started Mickaboo, it was primarily to help the smaller birds. The "throwaway" birds. I was so tired of getting calls (at BABH, where I worked) from people saying how sick their bird was and when I would attempt to schedule an appt., they would gasp at the cost (at that time, 45.00) and say how they "only spent 50.00...etc. for the bird". I had countless requests for information on at-home "euthanasia" (i.e. murder :( I was told that birds were going to be flushed, put under the wheel of cars, put into bags and tied to the exhaust pipe of a car...horrifying When I would try to refer them to the shelter (if the owner was even motivated enough to consider taking a bird there), the bird would usually be euthanized there because the shelter vets knew nothing about birds and had no other options. Their method of euthanasia was not kind either, but better than the at-home options. At least w/ the larger birds there is a larger immediate financial commitment so they usually have more expectation of financial responsibiltiy. when people find out a 15.00 Budgie costs the same as a 1,000.00 Macaw to treat, they want to get rid of the responsibility, period. Pet stores do nothing to prepare buyers. I've bought many birds at pet stores to save them from certain death and never was I questioned about my knowledge or what kind of care the bird required. The Budgie/Cockatiel was popped into a box and money changed hands. I wasn't even given the "care sheets" that are now required by law. Most of the larger birds we get come to us due to plucking, screaming or biting. This is a stress to our foster system. Most of the smaller birds come to us becuase of health problems. This is a stress to our foster system as well but also a huge stress to our finances. If nothing is done to stifle their sales, we will be taking in more and more at higher and higher cost. If there is a way to stop even a fraction of their sales, we should do our best to support that option.responsibily.

On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 11:32 PM, Philip Gerrie wrote:

...

A couple of queries. As we consider a ban on the sale of birds, do we consider *all* birds or just the exotic parrot species as delineated by HSUS?

Good choices

Canaries, finches, cockatiels, parakeets, and lovebirds are birds who have a long history of selective breeding in captivity and can be considered domesticated strains of wild species. Their basic needs are more easily met, proper supplies to care for them are readily available, and these birds can live long, happy lives in a caring home. Better kept in the wild

In comparison, birds like conures, parrots (of whom there are many varieties), macaws, cockatoos, and toucans are problematic because they have not undergone the same process of long captive breeding and genetic selection. These birds are still wild animals, even when bred in captivity. As such, their normal behavior can make them difficult and demanding to live with. Dana Strome's video of her bird house in the Mission, http://sfpublicpress.org/news/2010-06/bird-shrink, Comments? From the video can you see problems with how she is keeping care of her 50 parrots?

That's it for now, Philip

-- Elizabeth

Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org http://www.rescuereport.org/ www.MickaCoo.org http://www.mickacoo.org/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

-- Elizabeth

Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0