In a nutshell, what I would say is that, whether you (and your friends and families and colleagues) support or oppose the ban, please- adopt rather than buy your pets. There are SO MANY homeless and at risk.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Michelle Yesney <msyesney@gmail.com>Date: Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 12:11 AM
Subject: [Mickaboo Discuss] SF Ban on Sale of Small Animals
To: discuss <
discuss@mickaboo.org>
To Mickaboo,
I'm sure many of you are aware of the proposal in San Francisco to ban the sale of small animals (hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, etc.) and that it has been amended to include birds. There was a hearing before the animal welfare commission last week, which was attended by a number of Mickaboo people. Several spoke in favor of the proposed ban. A great many other people spoke against it, including representatives of large breeders' organizations and pet store owners. Some of these people flew in from other parts of the state, or even from out of state. Such a high degree of interest is not unusual when a lot of money is at stake.
A number of people took the opportunity of the hearing to vilify animal rescue organizations and their opinions, especially if their opinions were opposed to wholesale breeding and sales of animals. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that people who feel their profits are at risk from rescue groups should hate rescue groups. It's still a little disconcerting to hear
US accused of making profits from rescuing animals. Either they think there are lots and lots of valuable animals to be rescued out there (which supports our position about overpopulation), or else they are just talking to hear their lips flap.
Some of the same people who are opposed to the ban are making the media rounds, talking on radio shows, and doing interviews. It is going to be very tempting to want to argue with them, to expose the untruths they're spreading, and to defend a cause you've given time, money, and tears to. Fortunately, you are free to do whatever you think appropriate to let the world know that perhaps they shouldn't believe everything they hear or read.
We would like, however, to keep the discussion focused on our goals. We want the discussions to be about all of the animals that are abandoned, abused, and neglected and who deserve good homes, not euthanasia. Many of you are active with other rescues, and you know very well about what is happening in shelters and rescue groups all over the United States.
Mickaboo believes that exotic birds are not easy pets, and that no one should be deceived into thinking that they are. We think that mass marketing, much of it deceptive, results in birds being purchased by people who don't understand how to care for them or live with them, and the results are what we in rescue see everyday.
So, we want the debate to about the reasons behind the proposal to ban the sale of small animals and birds in pet store in San Francisco -- the overpopulation that is leading to heavy burdens on shelters and rescues -- not about the wicked breeders, the greedy pet store owners, or the devious rescue groups.
We will be trying to take a focused position and to avoid getting into official name-calling battles in public. If you want to join the debate, please do -- but please don't say you represent Mickaboo. That way leads to chaos. And it could end up with you being attacked, or someone trying to draw you into a debate about what the organization stands for, who it was we refused to adopt to, or why our process is too long and unnecessary.
You can say you're involved with animal rescue, or bird rescue, or you're part of a bird club -- whatever you think best describes your interests and position. Talk about why you do what you do, what you see and what you've learned.
If you have questions about what's happening where or when, or about who's doing what - post to this list. Someone will probably be able to answer.
And be sure to say thank you to Elizabeth Young, Karen Watkins, Kim Flaherty, Mira Tweti, and any others who attended the Commission hearing to testify in favor of the ban. These battles are a little different than the ones we usually fight, but the war is the same.
Thank you all for doing so much for the birds.
Michelle Yesney
CEO
Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue
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