Go Merlie! Advocacy is the way to go.
Yep, I have read the articles.[
QUOTE=Mercedez;827214]No one breeds birds for temperament for temperment. No one will either.
Mercedes--check out Steve Hartman at Hartman Aviary. I believe he also is responsible for the Aviator Harness. Good articles, too. I'm sorry that I don't know how to provide all that info here.
I am not an AR advocate and wish all animals were not in human care and were free. I especially think its wrong to "own" a species like an intelligent parrot or bird. They shouldn't be thought of as owned or as a pet, but apart of family to be well cared for and loved. That would be a good world. However, that is impossible and will never happen! What we can push for is humane practices, education, and always improve animal welfare. Let's face it, the animal welfare laws that are in place suck. More stricter laws need to happen.Greg has a severe AR agenda and if it were up to him, no one would own birds...that's what the AR movement wants.
It's more than a few thousand. If only 1% of birds didn't have homes that would still add up to 800,000 birds. (It's definitely higher than 1%) but those are semantics.Sorry John, I don't believe there are 40 million parrots in the U.S. that need homes. I doubt there are more than a few thousand. You are talking parrots who have no permanent home, such as those in rescues, correct?
Also, we are going to have to agree to disagree on whether people should be allowed to breed birds or even if they should breed birds. This is awkward for me because normally I am right there with you on the opinions you post.
But that will never happen, any more than it will happen with dogs or cats or birds or horses or children. Some people will always be irresponsible. How is that irresponsibility your fault? Why should what someone else does make you feel guilty if you're doing nothing wrong? That's what I don't get. If you're providing the best home for your animals, regardless of what those animals happen to be, that you can, then what is there to feel guilty about? And if you do insist on feeling guilty, how can you help but do whatever it takes, including getting rid of your birds, to alleviate that guilt?If and when there are no more birds needing a good home. Then aviculture can be revisited. Society does the same thing with children.
All of the sources I've found say there are a total of 10-17 million pet birds of *ANY* kind in the United States. Only 3.9% of U.S. households have birds, whereas more than 30% have dogs and cats. While I'm willing to eliminate chickens, geese and the like from that total, you still have lots of non-parrots. At the high end, you're still looking at 17,000 homeless birds, not 800,000. Let's try to stick with the actual facts here, can we?It's more than a few thousand. If only 1% of birds didn't have homes that would still add up to 800,000 birds. (It's definitely higher than 1%) but those are semantics.
Unfortunately, Mercedez, this is a view held by people with an AR agenda. The AR folks want exactly this. I know you aren't AR, but statements like this fuel the AR movement. The AR movement wants to do exactly what John said, make breeding of any animal, including livestock, illegal so that we no longer have pets after this generation dies out. Once that happens, there will be no more pets period. I know this is not how you feel, but you have to be aware that this is the goal of the AR movement and makes it possible to do exactly what you state you wish could happen..."all animals were not in human care and were free" was your exact quote...the AR movement wants to make this a reality.I am not an AR advocate and wish all animals were not in human care and were free. I especially think its wrong to "own" a species like an intelligent parrot or bird. They shouldn't be thought of as owned or as a pet, but apart of family to be well cared for and loved. That would be a good world. However, that is impossible and will never happen! What we can push for is humane practices, education, and always improve animal welfare. Let's face it, the animal welfare laws that are in place suck. More stricter laws need to happen.
Are you truly worried that that would ever happen?Unfortunately, Mercedez, this is a view held by people with an AR agenda. The AR folks want exactly this. I know you aren't AR, but statements like this fuel the AR movement. The AR movement wants to do exactly what John said, make breeding of any animal, including livestock, illegal so that we no longer have pets after this generation dies out. Once that happens, there will be no more pets period. I know this is not how you feel, but you have to be aware that this is the goal of the AR movement and makes it possible to do exactly what you state you wish could happen..."all animals were not in human care and were free" was your exact quote...the AR movement wants to make this a reality.
How Many Captive Birds: Are Population Studies Giving Us a Clear Picture?All of the sources I've found say there are a total of 10-17 million pet birds of *ANY* kind in the United States. Only 3.9% of U.S. households have birds, whereas more than 30% have dogs and cats. While I'm willing to eliminate chickens, geese and the like from that total, you still have lots of non-parrots. At the high end, you're still looking at 17,000 homeless birds, not 800,000. Let's try to stick with the actual facts here, can we?
And as Mercedez said.Why Numbers Alone May Not Tell the Whole Story
While all of these estimates of “pet” birds are far lower than those for companion cats and dogs, the population of cats and dogs has remained relatively stable over time while “pet” bird populations have increased substantially in recent years. With the commercialization of birds as pets and mass production-style breeding operations, and avian welfare organizations have witnessed an alarming increase in the number of displaced/unwanted captive birds. More than half of all captive birds are classified in the order Psittaciformes, comprising more than 350 parrot species. Many of the larger parrots in captivity can live 60 years or more—4 times the lifespan of dogs and cats. The limitations of avian medicine do not provide for birds to be routinely spayed or neutered so anyone who acquires a pair of parrots has the potential to become a breeder. “Bird mills”—breeding facilities capable of producing hundreds and even hundreds of thousands of birds and bringing them to market quickly—exist all across America.
The point at which animals kept as human “companions” reach “overpopulation” is determined not by the number of animals but by the number responsible, qualified caretakers available to care for the type of animal in question. Species that have complex or demanding requirements needing skillful and knowledgeable caretakers who are prepared to commit significant time and/or resources to animal care will reach an “overpopulation” at a lower total number than species requiring less specialized care. For example, there are more people who are capable of providing care for cats and dogs than there are people who are capable of providing care for exotic animals such as parrots, reptiles, or primates. Therefore, while there may be a larger total number of homeless cats and dogs compared to homeless captive parrots, there are also a larger number of potential homes for cats and dogs while there are relatively few qualified and capable potential homes for parrots.
Many exotic bird breeders have argued that there is no “overpopulation” of parrots because they are still able to sell the birds they raise. However, the same can be said of purebred dog and cat breeders. This is because despite the well-recognized overpopulation of cats and dogs in this country, there still exists a market for purebred animals—especially purebred puppies and kittens. Likewise there continues to be a market for certain types of captive birds—especially young or baby birds. The demand for young birds is driven by a marketing myth: a young bird or even unweaned bird will guarantee a better “pet.” This widely believed myth creates a demand for young birds that is perpetuated by breeders and pet stores, thereby ensuring continued sales in a market that is over-saturated with older birds of every variety.
So birds in rescues are the only ones looking for a home? CL doesn't count? Other online sites dont count? Animals waiting to find their forever homes in petstores don't count? You have the numbers for rescues, what about other places?
I was incredibly generous with the 20 rescues per state with 500 birds per rescue. Many states don't even have rescues. I think this more than covers all the birds that come up on Craig's List. The numbers they push are just not there.So birds in rescues are the only ones looking for a home? CL doesn't count? Other online sites dont count? Animals waiting find their forever homes in petstores don't count? You have the numbers for rescues, what about other places?
Um...yes and that is simply because of the statement you made. Once again, look at what you said:Are you truly worried that that would ever happen?
Are you truly worried that that would ever happen?