The birds NEED supporters at this meeting next Thursday, 7/8 at SF City
Hall, starting at 5:30. Please come even if you can't get there right at
5:30 (late arrivals are OK and better than not going by far).
YOU DO *NOT* NEED TO BE AN SF RESIDENT TO ATTEND THIS MEETING.
The Mickaboo press release is attached. PLEASE SHARE IT! Send it to your
people, post in on Facebook, cross post it, etc.
Thank you!
Elizabeth
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Philip Gerrie <glassgerrie(a)gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 7:48 PM
Subject: Invitation to speak at the next ACWC meeting July 8
To:
Cc: lauren(a)northstarrescue.org, bayarearats(a)aol.com, teresa(a)cavyspirit.com,
Lani Ritchey <lritchey(a)sriconsulting.com>, paulhaskins(a)sanbrunocable.com,
sf(a)rattieratz.com, Elizabeth Young <adoptkings(a)gmail.com>, Rebecca Katz <
Rebecca.Katz(a)sfgov.org>
Hi Everyone,
I sent out a last minute invitation last month to come speak at our
meeting about a proposal banning the sale of small animals in SF pet stores.
Carisa from Rattie Ratz and Elizabeth Young from Mikacoo were able to make
it on such short notice. There input was very helpful. The issue has grown
larger with the consideration of banning birds as well. Local pet stores
have been galvanizing support against a ban. Our Commission is still taking
in information deciding what to recommend to the Supervisors. I personally
am looking at alternatives to banning, as an option, such as a waiting
period before buying an animal. Another issue is the two kinds of pet stores
in SF, the local mom & pop stores and the large chains. would a ban effect
both equally? I had originally proposed just banning the sale of dogs and
cats from commercial sources, ie. puppy mills, in SF as City policy. There
was no opposition to that proposal but the temptation was to possibly do
something unique in the country and include small animals and possibly
birds. I have heard from several of you to my recent questionnaire. I cannot
share your responses with more than two other Commissioners outside of
Meeting without breaking Sunshine Laws. So you can tell us at the meeting
what you wrote and more or less as you like.
With the declawing ban a few months back, there were dozens of countries
that have banned declawing as inhumane. In the U.S. it is only a few cities
in California. Does anyone know of any similar country-wide efforts
regarding the sale or restrictions of selling other animals?
Let me know if you can come and willing to speak. You will have more than
the two or three minutes the public at large has if invited.
Thank you, Philip Gerrie - Commissioner ACWC 415 641-7457
--
Elizabeth
Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt.
www.RescueReport.orgwww.MickaCoo.orghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0
**
The pet bird crisis is so bad that when I attended the SF Animal Welfare
Commission's <http://www.sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=369> meeting at City
Hall on 6/10 to discuss a possible ban on the sale of pets in SF, *birds had
been left off the list of animals being considered*, despite the fact that
the Bay Area's nonprofit, all volunteer Mickaboo Companion Bird
Rescue<http://www.mickaboo.org/>
is continuously overwhelmed with surrendered, abandoned and neglected pet
parrots ranging from budgies and cockatiels and conures to macaws and
amazons and cockatoos.
Since that meeting, birds have been added to the discussion and that is very
important because consumers are, for the most part, completely unaware of
what parrots require for proper care. As a result, the average parrot will
be mistreated despite good intentions and, because of behaviors like
screaming, destructiveness and aggression, be rehomed seven times in the
first ten years of their lives.
*Mickaboo Companion Rescue Organization (and its partner **MickaCoo Pigeon &
Dove Rescue* <http://www.mickacoo.org/>*) support the ban on pet bird sales
in San Francisco and asks that you help us to get the word out about what is
really happening with pet birds. This link **
http://mickaboo.org/release.pdf** is a Mickaboo press release for immediate
distribution.*
For your convenience, here are links to recent TV news coverage on the
issue-
Birds may be added to ban on pet sales 6/10, SF ABC Channel 7
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=7491424
SF leaders consider bird sale ban 6/18, SF ABC Channel 7
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=7507345
And here, in an article and a book written by award-winning animal welfare
journalist Mira Tweti, detailed more completely than I ever could, are the
many reasons why banning pet bird sales is the right thing to do.
*Plenty to Squawk About* - Los Angeles Times - Award-winning LA Times
Magazine expose' (which spurred the book) and helped to pass a
precedent-setting bill to protect baby parrots in the pet trade (ie, pet
stores & breeders selling them too young)
http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jul/20/magazine/tm-parrots29
*Of Parrots and People: The Sometimes Funny, Always Fascinating and Often
Catastrophic Collision of Two Intelligent Species*
http://www.amazon.com/Parrots-People-Fascinating-Catastrophic-Intelligent/d…
(It was lauded by everyone from Dr. Jane Goodall to Wayne Pacelle, Prez/CEO
of the Humane Society of the US).
I send you my heartfelt appreciation for your efforts on behalf of this
discussion.
--
Elizabeth, MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue
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
These pictures are of Duke (one broken leg and comfy on his tummy) and Missy
(two painful, hurt legs, one of which is broken and splinted and she is more
comfortable on her back).
Special thanks to volunteers Zann, Mike and Jennifer for their help with
these two sweethearts.
e
--
Elizabeth
Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt.
www.RescueReport.orgwww.MickaCoo.orghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0
