Don't Lose Your Right To Own Birds
Those of us involved in aviculture---the keeping and rearing of birds, are
often so engrossed in our activities that frequently we are unaware of
circumstances that could adversely impact our very right to own birds.
Throughout the world, but particularly here in this country, are
numerous organizations that are adamantly opposed to keeping birds.
Indeed, and kind of animals, not only as pets, but also for utilization
in breeding programs. Collectively these organizations are known as
animal rights groups, and they are very powerful. The represent
themselves as being concerned with the humane treatment of animals, which
is deceptive. However, under this guise, they have convinced some
twenty million people to donate as much as two hundred million dollars
to their cause. Since the mid-l980's membership in animal rights groups
have increased approximately 5 fold. Letters by such activists, directed
to members of congress, are one of the largest segments received by that
body.
As stated above these organizations represent their major agenda as
being the humane treatment of animals. In actuality the true goal of
these groups is the eventual ban of any utilization of animals----not
just as pets, but to include all usages, including food. The following
are some of the quotes from animal rights groups, which will indicate the
seriousness of their intent.
1. Our goal is not to improve the treatment of pets, but to end their
ownership altogether.
2. Pets are slaves. Dogs must disappear from our homes where they are
held prisoner.
3. We do not seek larger, cleaner cages, we seek empty cages.
4. We must eliminate zoo's and aquariums and release their prisoners
back into their wild environment.
5. Breeding of companion animals is indefensible, and we must no longer
allow breeding, until companion animals (pets) no longer exist.
6. Justice demands a complete end to all use of animals for food.
These are but a few of the recorded statements of animal rights groups.
However, they are sufficient to indicate their intension and ultimate
goal......the elimination of all pets and eventual end of all use of
animals for any reason whatsoever.
As stated these groups are large and powerful, both financially and
politically. They function at all governmental levels....local, state
and national. They contribute to campaign efforts of individuals seeking
public office. As a result, when an official is elected they are
indebted to those organizations, and will be receptive to their wishes.
Sadly it is how the system works.
In recruiting membership, and in lobbing elected officials, A.R. groups
deal in misconceptions, distortions of the truth, and frequently outright
fabrications. They represent aviculture as a cruel inhumane practice in
which birds are kept in tiny cages, improperly cared for, frequently
without food or water resulting in death from neglect. While these
organizations depict aviculture as being brutal and inhumane, we as
aviculturists make virtually NO EFFORT TO SPEAK OUT ON OUR OWN BEHALF.
Officials who make our laws and regulations do not hear from us how we
indeed DO give our charges excellent care. We do not make them aware
that our birds are maintained in proper facilities. How we feed the
best nutritional and scientifically formulated diets, or how our birds
have appropriate veterinary care. How they are protected from sever
weather or marauding predators. We do not share that aviculture and
aviculturists have made great strides at improving conditions in the last
20 years, of working at education of both ourselves ( look what we share
here!), and of others. We do not make it known how as a result of the
excellent care our birds receive they have a life expectancy many times
over that of their wild counterparts. We fail to make it known how as a
result of our breeding programs we are PRESERVING many species that
otherwise might well be lost forever when they are exterminated in the
wild. Certainly the animal rights activists never speak of those things,
and , sadly, we as aviculturists fail to speak in our behalf as well.
Animal rightists are realistic. They are aware that they cannot move too
rapidly, but must be content to take what they can, when they can. A
favorite tactic is to influence legislators in the enactment of
restrictive legislation. ( Lori Rutledge Edmund, Wa.) As an example it
is comparatively simple to have regulations enacted to control noise.
Such a regulation will enable an A.R. activist to register complaints
against individuals owning pet's. Frequently this results in the pet
owner being forced to dispose of his pet, or the pet is taken and
disposed of. One of the methods utilized to deny keeping and ownership
of pets. Another tactic is to petition a governing body, such as a city
planning board, or county commissioners. Example, to enact an ordinance
requiring a license fee for **exotic animals**. The implication would be
that an exotic animal would be unusual and perhaps large individual, and
might represent some type of hazard..It would not seem unreasonable to
require an annual license fee for such exotics, and a regulation is
enacted. Unfortunately, it would not be discovered until later that
a canary, a cockatiel, tropical fish and any number of other innocent
animals are also exotics and would fall under the same licensing
category. These are but two examples of how restrictive regulations can
be enacted.......there are many others. In fact, in Burn's Or. a few
years ago, just such a law WAS put into place. The problem was with pot
bellied pigs breaking loose, and everyone was in favor of people keeping
their pigs home and voted on the proposed bill. What they did not notice
was the *wording* of the bill "exotics", which then took in the kids
goldfish, neighbors birds etc. All are exotics. Notice if it were the
neighbors rooster greeting the sunrise, this was fine, but illegal would
be the other neighbors pet Congo African Grey Parrot. Once a
regulation is enacted it is VERY difficult to have it rescinded.
Again, while animal rights groups are unrelenting in their efforts to
deny our right to keep and breed birds,we on the other hand are doing
virtually nothing to defend ourselves, OR OUR PETS !.
The American Federation of Aviculture is the ONLY organization actually
working in OUR behalf. The AFA has worked since 1974 to preserve our
right to own and breed birds. This always takes a large chunk of their
operating budget and an enormous commitment of it's volunteer Board of
Directors and State Coordinators. We must expand the capability of AFA to
fight for our interests, and
The greatest mistake we can make is to dismiss the threat of animal
rights groups as being of little consequence. Make no mistake, these
groups are absolutely dedicated to their efforts to terminate our right
to keep birds. WE the pet bird owners, the breeders, the lovers
of animals better quit trying to find that place to hide, and learn to
stand up and SPEAK up for our pets. If we remain silent, we give them the
power, and clear the way to make sure their is NO tomorrow for our
feathered friends, or any companion animal. Unless we are willing to
stand and fight for these rights it well may happen.
If you do not own birds, but would like to help, then consider
donating so AFA can continue fighting for our rights to
own, keep, and breed birds.
Act, and act NOW!"
P.O. Box 56218
Phoenix, Az.85079-6218
phone(602) 484-0931 or fax (602) 484-0109
