| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 167.1 | | CSC32::K_WORKMAN | Hand picked by Juan Valdez | Tue Apr 25 1989 14:20 | 39 |
| Nancy I saw this... I too was sick! I have heard horror stories
about what they put birds through to get them in the states. I
feel VERY VERY strongly about doing much to promote domestic breeding
and have this STOPPED!.
As far as determining if the bird is illegally imported, always
look for CLOSED banding! In Colorado you can trace CLOSED bands
through the health department and get the breeders name. Then you
can contact the breeder and get confirmation on your bird. All
states have CLOSED banding laws and the numbers on those bands can
always be traced through some organization. It is VERY hard to
put a closed BAND on a wild caught bird. The Band is made to be
put on when they are babies and they grow into the band so that
it doesn't come off and can't be slipped on either! Always trace
the number if you are suspicious. Also look for weld marks or
tampering marks on the band also!
Now for imports; legally imported birds have OPEN bands which do
have a number on them which can be traced to an import station which
is SUPPOSED to keep records of birds coming in and out of their
facility. But OPEN bands are much easier to cheat with.
If you go to look at a bird that has NO band, DON'T BUY IT. This
is illegal.
I know how you feel. Think about the poor birds that get tapped
to the inside door panels of a car and driven across the boarder!
The mortality rate is....
Do what you can to PROMOTE DOMESTIC BREEDING. Join your local bird
clubs to learn about domestic breeding and learn about laws in your
state regarding breeding. At our last meeting we had Dr. Gloria
Mackey from the STATE HEALTH DEPT come in to speak and domestic
breeding and licensing. She was GREAT!.
I hope this helps and know that I'm with you on trying to stop this
animal abuse!
Karen from Colorado
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| 167.2 | No bands? | WITNES::HANNULA | Well, you see, I have this cat....... | Tue Apr 25 1989 14:35 | 12 |
| H&G don't have bands. Open or Closed. I bought them when they
were still babies and they had "breeding spots" on their wings -
red ones and blue ones. What does this mean?
Also, when I bought, I had to fill out some Dept.of Agriculture
form as some type of owner registry. This was in NY State. Any
ideas what this was?
H&G were very tame when I got them - they would sit on my fingers
and arms. But as the years have gone by, they have taken to eachother
more than they have taken to me.
-nancy
|
| 167.3 | Don't know anything about Cockatiels... | KIRIN::K_WORKMAN | I.L.M.T.B.! | Tue Apr 25 1989 19:51 | 26 |
| Nancy,
I don't know what this owner registry is. You may want to call
the DEPT of Agriculture to see what they expect. When ever I buy
a Parrot, the Colorado Dept of Health does issue a certificate
filed out by the Breeder, Pet Store etc... On the back there is
something about Psittacosis that is mandatory you read before you
sign. All this information is made in triplicate and a copy sent
to the Health Dept for their records for tracking. On these it
requires a band number. Their may be some distinction in your state
on what a Psittacine is. My Quakers are not Parrots but they issued
me this Psittacine certificate and they are closed banded. In moving
birds from state to state there are banding requirements
to get across the boarder. Possibly there are some differences
in your state with Cockatiels??? I don't know. Finches for example
are banded through the NATIONAL FINCH SOCIETY, Not the Health Dept....
I guess you really just need to get the laws for your state.
I would say again though that banding is the only way you have of
knowing for sure if he is an import or not and even possibly where
he came from if he was breed domestically and in most states Parrots
MUST be banded.
Does anyone have more on this????
Karen
|
| 167.4 | | FSTTOO::WIMMER | | Tue Apr 25 1989 21:22 | 4 |
| To the best of my knowledge, Massachusetts does not require banding
of cockatiels. Mine are from a private breeder and are not banded.
I've seen quite a few that were hand fed, from a breeder, and not
banded.
|
| 167.5 | There ought to be a law against that! | MANILA::WALZ | | Tue Apr 25 1989 21:49 | 24 |
| In many states birds do not have to be banded. Texas is an
example. We network very carefully with local breeders.
Although many of the state laws are good, we must not jump
on the bandwagon without first researching what impact the law
will have. For example, Colorado's laws are so stringent
regarding how a small breeder can advertise and puts so many
restrictions on breeders, the laws actually discourage domestic
breeding.
Texas recently tried to pass a wild animal law making it
necessary to register every animal in this classification.
Even parakeets were included. Cost of registration?---$100 per
bird. Cost on non-compliance?---Seizure and destruction of
the bird.
Most reputable breeders will band their birds whether the
law requires it or not. These bands, however, should be
removed from the larger psittacines when sold, making resale
a problem.
The smuggling horrors are many in Texas due to our proximity to
Mexico. The best defense is to research your breeder and refuse
to buy any bird which is suspected of being smuggled.
|
| 167.6 | | CSC32::K_WORKMAN | Hand picked by Juan Valdez | Thu Apr 27 1989 19:03 | 76 |
| >> For example, Colorado's laws are so stringent
>>regarding how a small breeder can advertise and puts so many
>>restrictions on breeders, the laws actually discourage domestic
>>breeding.
Laws in Colorado for Commercial Breeding are not strict enough!
This is why new laws are being proposed currently to tighten up
on our commercial facilities. You know, the pet store where the
animals water looks like green yuck and the birds are feather
plucked, in too small of cages, sick etc... This is stemming from
the overwhelming number of complaints by citizens on public
bird/pet sales/breeding facilities.
Hobbiest breeders, "the small breeders", have very few requirements
under Colorado law. These requirements for licensing can more
often than not NOT be enforced. For example, the Colorado Health
Department cannot come and inspect a hobbiest breeders' facility
as it can with the commercial breeding facility/pet store. This
is because it invades the Write to Privacy Act of the United
States Consitution. It is of good faith consent that a hobbiest
breeder ensures that birds are quaranteened before sold, and
are banded with Colorado Health Department bands which carry
the hobbiest breeders license number, year, and unique bird
number and that accurate records be kept on sales of psittacines.
The hobbiest breeder does have certain restrictions as far as
advertising but this restriction is extremely lienient. Newspapers
are out but a hobbiest breeder can place an add in Bird Talk as
MANY do, Colorado Congo's, Arrowhead Aviaries to name a few. They
can use other speciality subscriptions, and bird club news letters,
business cards, fliers, etc....
The biggest restriction a hobbiest breeder has is the number of
birds he/she can SELL (not breed) within one year's time. The
limit is 100. Apparently in many cases this number can be
extended legally. By the way, none of these laws/restrictions
apply to little birds like Canaries and Finches.
These laws are NOT TO DISCOURAGE DOMESTIC BREEDING, they are to
protect YOU and the BIRDS. Sometimes proposals get out of hand
but that's where you and your support groups/legislators come
in! From reading the previous reply, myself and others are
concerned that this idea not become a wide spread belief that
having protectionist laws means higher import and lower
domestic breeding. We are not going to stop illegal smuggling
without these types of laws! I'm also concerned that this belief
NOT influence potential hobbiest breeders in this and other states
from deciding against getting a license to do so. *** Did you know
there are over 400 hobbiest breeders in Colorado alone and total
breeder count including dealers, wholesalers, commercial and out
of state (registered in CO) breeders brings the total to somewhere
around 2000? Doesn't sound like breeders are getting discouraged
at all but if people don't get the facts on the laws and just assume
the laws are too strict then this number could drop off!
The Rocky Mountain Avicultural Society, Colorado Cage Bird
Association and some truly concerned legislators have done
much to encourage domestic breeding, I would hate to see
their work not pay off.
Please read the latest Bird Talk issue, page 8 on SMUGGLED BIRD
WARNING. I have the pamphlet that they recommend you get on
"how to avoid getting a smuggled bird". Request it be sent to
you. Also note that they say you should only deal with "reputable"
shops, breeders etc.. and check for the USDA approved leg
band.
I'm not attempting to challenge anyone on this but Colorado does
not deserve to be singled out on this! Many strict laws have
been propsed for hobbiest breeders, but shot down thanks to the
work of people like us. We can make a difference.
Karen
Also, I have a copy of the Colorado Statutes. If you would like
a copy send me mail.
|
| 167.7 | USDA fact sheet | WITNES::HANNULA | Well, you see, I have this cat....... | Wed Jun 07 1989 18:05 | 43 |
| I just got my info sheet from the USDA on smuggled birds.
I thought I would share the points in the pamphlet on how to protect
ourselves from buying a smuggled bird. If anyone would like a whole
copy of the info sheet, send me mail.
-Nancy
**********************************************************************
* Deal only with reputable pet shoops or wholesale dealers -- companies
that have been recommended or that have been in business a number
of years.
* If you respond to a classified advertisement for a bird, make
certain it is being offered by a bona fide dealer or breeder.
* Be suspocious if the price of a bird is lower than that normally
charged and be wary of any advertised at "rock bottom" orices.
* Make certain to check for the circular stainless Steel, USDA approved
leg band -- always engraved with three letters and three numbewrs
-- before buying an imported hookbill bird. This band is your
guarantee of a "legal" bird.
* Isolate newly purchased birds for at least 30 days. If birds
seem uncoordinated or have trouble breathingm contact local
veterinarians or animal health officials immediately. If birds
should die, place them in plastic bags and refrigerate them so they
may be submitted to a diagnostic laboratory.
* If you should suspect illegal activity, call USDA's smuggled Bird
Hotline.
* Maintain a good working relationship with a veterinarian
knowledgeable abut birds.
* If you're a bird dealer, maintain communications with local
government officials concerned about the safety, health, and well-being
of birds.
* If you're an individual planning to buy a bird overseas, learn about
the strict regulations for brining one into the United States.
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