Birds In Retail:
Photo - Foster Parrots Ltd.
Shopping with a Captive Audience?
Few people realize that when they shop at a store that sells birds they may be supporting cruelty. Although PetsMart and Petco have policies against the sale of cats and dogs, they continue to sell birds despite allegations of inadequate care and abuse and a growing number of unwanted birds. Birds are highly intelligent and active animals with complex social needs; they should not be treated like mere merchandise.
What's wrong with selling birds?
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Retail environments encourage impulse buying, especially when animals are sold in conjunction with special promotions and discounts. Moreover, customers are rarely informed about the potential problems (noise, biting, aggression, self-mutilation, mess, etc.) when they are buying a bird. As a result, thousands of birds are purchased by inexperienced people, who soon find that a bird is not their ideal companion.
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Very few people are capable of meeting the special needs of exotic birds. Nor do they comprehend the seriousness of committing to care for birds for their entire life span - which can range from 20 to 70 years or more, depending on species. In consequence, many birds spend their lives isolated and confined to their cages, bounced from home to home, or abandoned.
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Currently, more than 90 self-described bird rescues or sanctuaries operate in the United States. Many of them have come into existence in the last few years to care for the influx of unwanted and abandoned birds. Selling more birds simply exacerbates this critical problem.
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Since the cost of veterinary care often exceeds the "value" of the bird, pet stores have little incentive to provide necessary care; their primary concern isthe store's bottom line.
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Some birds languish in pet stores for years before finding a permanent home. These birds often develop behavioral problems that further reduce their chances of finding a home.
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Breeding facilities that supply birds to pet stores often resemble little more than warehouses in which birds are held in barren cages for mass production.
Please urge PetsMart and Petco to stop selling birds. Contact them directly PETsMART 1-800-738-1385 x2518 - Petco 1-800-765-9878 or write a letter.
Don't patronize any store that treats animals like merchandise.
