Birds In Retail

Photo - Foster Parrots Ltd

While we have enacted laws to protect our native birds, such as blue jays, cardinals, and hawks from commercial exploitation, we fail to recognize the inconsistency in allowing the pet industry to exploit the birds of other countries. As a result, thousands of birds are sold into the pet trade but few will find a qualified, loving and permanent home. Most will spend their days isolated and confined to their cages, while others will bounce from home to home as their caretakers tire of them, and some may be abandoned at local shelters and birds rescues, set free to fend for themselves or euthanized.

Meanwhile pet stores across the country continue to treat birds like merchandise peddling them into the pet trade. Pet stores that sell live animals are routinely faced with conflicting responsibilities between caring for the health and well being of the animals and protecting the store's bottom line. Often it's the bottom line that prevails.

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