Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uflorida!novavax!jake!dc
From: dc@jake.UUCP (Don Chiappone)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Contributions from Exotic Bird owners.
Summary: Don't let them get away with it !
Message-ID: <7826@jake.UUCP>
Date: 26 Oct 89 18:19:30 GMT
References: <7995@cloud9.Stratus.COM> <5280002@hpavla.HP.COM> <4337@jake.UUCP> <999@dinorah.wustl.edu>
Organization: Gould CSD, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Lines: 38

In article <999@dinorah.wustl.edu>, mary@dinorah.wustl.edu (Mary E. Leibach) writes:

> [...]
> You want to see a REALLY sad sight?  Go to your local department store
> and look in the pet section.  It seems to be the fashion for them to
> have these tinsy-tiny cages, and crowd a lot of budgies, or two
> cockatiels in them.  This results in health problems, and some times
> mutilated birds from them fighting in the cramped quarters.  I have
> seen bloody birds, sick birds, and dirty-bedragled birds.  As a
> result, I boycott any store that carries birds and abuses them in this
> fashion.  I won't buy any thing there: clothes, videotapes, etc.  It
> is really aweful.
> 
> 	-Mary
> 
As I said .. don't let them get away with it !   I too have seen this type of
treatment in Department stores and Pet stores and IT IS INTOLERABLE.

What you need to do is ask for the owner/manager and explain your concerns for
the treatment the birds are receiving and (politely) request speedy remedy.
If you are told that it will be taken care of promptly, thank them and check
up on them in about a day.  If they have corrected the problem, fine.  My
experiences however, suggest that either they will not correct the problem(s)
or will tell you to "take a hike".  I leave the store, summon the nearest
Police assistance and go back.  The Officer usually explains to them that
there are numerous Statutes regarding animal cruelty and that I plan on filing
a Police report on them.  This will usually get results.  If not, DO IT !

I had one Pet store so bad that when the Animal Control Officer visited the
store on my complaint, they closed the store down.  Places usually
go along with your (reasonable) requests because they don't need/want the
hassle from the Police and you.
  
It is so sad that these kinds of actions are needed, but it is even sadder to
see the defenseless creatures left to the ignorance and carelessness of 
businesses and NOT attempt to help the animals and birds in some way.

I'll get off the Soap Box now ...