I am going to quote Helwa here because there seems to be a lot of missunderstanding about this bill. Helwa I hope you don't mind.
quote from the link:
"dramatically change how the trade in non-native species would be regulated by the Lacey Act (which covers many aspects of conservation and possession, transport and sales of wildlife). "
ok this is speaking of trade and import/export. there are already laws inplace with ban completely the import or export of any parrot species. specially those on the CITES and ESA lists. (lists of endangered species)
this is a very very very good thing. why? because these birds are trapped in the wild, their nests robbed, smuggled under utterly horrid conditions, set aside the total inhumane ways they are trapped and treated, the acts are depleting the species in the wild and they are becoming extinct with many many species already extinct.
Any bird that is bred in the united states is a native animal, it is not a wild animal, it is a domesticated, bred animal. Meaning it can not at all survive in the wild if it were released. It had no instinctual survival skills needed in the wild, nor does it possess the social skills needed to search for a flock and function within that flock. Thus, it is not a “wild animal” though many of our pet birds, are only one or two generations removed from the wild, and many of them, their parents were wild birds, but they themselves possess no ability to survive without human assistance.
Cockatiels, parakeets and love birds are not even considered wild in any way, they are considered 100% domesticated as they rarely even look like their wild counterparts.
Quote from pijac link:
“Currently, the Fish and Wildlife Service (hereafter Service) is required to demonstrate that a species is injurious [harmful] to health and welfare of humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture or forestry, and the welfare and survival of wildlife resources of the U.S.”
it would ne next to impossible to prove that about any parrot species, enless it was building up flocks over farm land, like quaker parrots do in many states, and they are banned because of it.
Quote:
“Species not appearing on the “Approved List” could not be imported into the United States, nor could they be moved in interstate commerce. Trade in all such unlisted species would come to a halt – possession would be limited and all breeding would have to cease. To reiterate: Unless species are included on the Approved List import, export, transport, and breeding would be prohibited. Exceptions are limited and would not be available to pet owners across the nation.”
This is pretty clear statement, it means all breeding of unapproved animals would have to stop. Why is that a good thing? Well because, believe it or not, there are more pet birds homeless and rotting away in rescues and shelters than all the cats and dogs combined !!!!! yet most main shelters don’t accept birds as they have no staff that know how to care for them or they lack funds or space or supplies to do so.
People get birds as pets having NO IDEA how intensive it is, how much it costs and end up surrendering them to shelters and rescue groups, or simply releasing tjem into the city or countryside, where they either die (most common) or find a mate and multiply like crazy (like quakers have) and become a serious problem.(which then gives ALL pet birds a bad reputation)
Just like cat and dog breeders really should STOP breeding more and more and more dogs and cats when millions are rotting in shelters waiting for homes, the exact same thing is true of bird breeders, even more so.
Quote:
PIJAC POSITION -- PIJAC supports the underlying intent of HR 669 to establish a risk-based process in order to prevent the introduction of potentially invasive species. It has been clear for quite some time that steps are needed to enhance and improve the current listing process for species shown to be injurious under the Lacey Act. In addition to much needed appropriations to fund staff and other ancillary support aids, the Lacey Act needs to be modernized to make the process more timely, efficient and transparent. However, HR 669 falls far short of accomplishing this objective.
As it says, it’s a good IDEA, but it needs heavy editing, and the process it outlines for getting animals approved or nonapproved is a buearocratic nightmare. Something like this bill is for sure needed, but this bill needs to be ratified and changed, and it most likely will be, keep in mind congress members own pets as well, not just us.
The Humane Society of the United States position on it:
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2009_nonnativewildife
keep in mind, NOTHING in the bill is speaking about pets already here, already owned and loved, it is ONLY speaking of IMPORTING NON NATIVE animals into the united states and breeders breeding out of control with no regulations.
It is really important to pay attention to where information comes from. Be sure it isn’t someones opinion on the bill, but rather the actual text of the bill itself.
Also, any breeder, or seller of such animals that are imported and non native would of course, be against the bill … The humane society is the largest animal advocacy organization in the country, they are not anti pet, they are however very very serious about animal welfare and about doing what is right and good for the animals not what feels better for human beings.
For example: people DO NOT need to have a pet chimp that goes on a rampage for decades unregulated and eventually mauls someone half to death, resulting in said chimp being shot down in the street like a common criminal, when the chimp was only doing what is absolutely natural to chimps.
