SF ACWC Commissioner Pam's response to my inquiry into the status of the AFA proposal is below, FYI. e ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Pam Hemphill Date: Wed, Sep 8, 2010 at 2:09 PM Subject: Re: [Media-advisors] Fwd: American Federation of Aviculture Exotic Bird Re-homing Proposal To: Elizabeth Young Elizabeth, I have sent off the questions to Mary Ellen and we will see what she says. I do think that she somehow does want to help, while being blind to the fact that breeding is part of creating the problem. Pam On Wed, Sep 8, 2010 at 11:22 AM, Elizabeth Young wrote:

Hello-

What's the latest on the AFA proposal? And how was the 8/30 Pet Ready meeting?

Elizabeth

On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 11:54 AM, Elizabeth Young wrote:

...

Second of two Mickaboo responses to the AFA proposal

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Tammy Azzaro Date: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 4:24 PM Subject: Re: [Media-advisors] Fwd: American Federation of Aviculture Exotic Bird Re-homing Proposal To: Mickaboo media advisor team

Hi Elizabeth, Let me start by saying that I'm pretty angry at this obviously sloppy attempt by breeders and pet trade people to stop the ban. I started Mickaboo in order to be a safety net for birds who had been abused, neglected and needed a second chance. If the AFA replaces Mickaboo as that second chance, we have just stepped back in time by 20 years as far as quality of care for these birds. It's a horrifying thought. My first thought is that there is a fundamental conflict of interest in allowing what is basically a club for breeders of an animal become the rescuers of those same animals when they become homeless because the pet trade failed them in the first place. According to this "proposal", the only requirement for taking in these birds is to become an AFA member (which will, of course, benefit AFA) and take an online course?? Secondly, she refers to SFACC as SPCA because she knows *nothing* about the SF shelter system and didn't even do her homework to find out *what* facility takes in birds in SF, let alone figures on how many come out of there requiring veterinary care. This brings me to my third major concern---vet care. She does not say what she will do about birds requiring vet care and mentions that those who "appear healthy" will have their medical care needs met by the volunteers who offer to take them in. We're supposed to assume that the same people who simply take an online course about bird care in order to be an AFA member and receive free birds from the city shelter system are going to pay what we know to be often exorbitant medical fees for those birds??? Eric at SFACC gave me a figure of nearly 300 bird that were taken into their shelter in '09. There were likely more but some are misclassified. We know how many of those ended up needing veterinary care and we know how costly that is. Are we expected to believe that those who profit from the animal are going to take on that burden? When she refers to "unhealthy birds", what are the "other options"? From what I know about the AFA and its members, I would be concerned to find out if those "other options" involve a tailpipe and a plastic bag.... When I get over the shock of the hypocrisy and ridiculous notion of this idea and the egotistical disregard towards the very animals they claim to serve, I may be abel to come up w/ more lucid thoughts. ~tammy On Aug 16, 2010, at 3:12 PM, Elizabeth Young wrote:

I'd encourage leadership to look at this and provide an official Mickaboo opinion/recommendations ASAP.

Entirely separate from this proposal, I wanted to know if:

- anybody has taken the AFA Avian Fundatementals online course? (I'd love to but REALLY need to redirect my energy back to MickaCoo which has suffered from my reduced time investment)

- if so, what your impressions are

Thanks, Elizabeth

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Pam Hemphill Date: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 2:40 PM Subject: Fwd: American Federation of Aviculture Exotic Bird Re-homing Proposal To: Philip Gerrie , Sally Stephens < stephensfw@mindspring.com>, Rebecca Katz , Kat Brown , Elizabeth Young , Jack Aldridge

Hi All, I gave Mary Ellen LePage my email at the last Commission meeting because she was requesting a contact to send us her "solution" to the homeless bird problem. Attached is her document and I would very much like your feedback. Note that this proposal is to substitute for a ban and that AFA members include breeders. I am not sure why she talks about the SPCA and not ACC. She may not be clear about those details.

Thanks, Pam

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mary Ellen LePage Date: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 7:41 AM Subject: American Federation of Aviculture Exotic Bird Re-homing Proposal To: Pam Hemphill Cc: Marilyn Hawley

Commissioner Pam Hemphill,

Thank you for allowing me to present this proposal to the commission. I think it is simple, cost saving and will be effective. I hope for success in San Francisco so that it will spread cross country. San Francisco helped the American Federation of Aviculture recognize your problem so that we can offer a solution.

I would like to work with your commission and animal control on a one-to-one basis. I can come to San Francisco to meet with you. Although I own a small property in San Francisco, I live in the Santa Cruz Mountains about 2 hours' drive from San Francisco, therefore telephone contact is good, also.

I am very excited about this program and dedicated to its success.

Please distribute the proposal to the commission and let me know how we can proceed to the next step.

Thank you for your help.

Mary Ellen LePage, Vice President of the American Federation of Aviculture Telephone: 408-997-3113 Cell: 408-373-5494 Fax: 408-323-1802 Address: 15466 Los Gatos Blvd, Suite 105-198 Los Gatos, CA 95032

-- 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 <American Federation Proposal for San Francisco pet re.doc>

Tammy Azzaro Mickaboo http://www.mickaboo.org/♡

-- 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 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