Hey NYC,
We can protect these gentle animals by shutting down the mill-to-pet-store pipeline.
We can protect these gentle animals by shutting down the mill-to-pet-store pipeline.
Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala has introduced Intro 1325, which would ban the sale of birds in New York City pet stores—protecting countless birds from suffering. Your voice is urgently needed! Send a message to your New York City councilmember and ask them to support a prohibition on the sale of birds in pet stores.
Birds sold in pet stores are bred in commercial facilities called mills where thousands of birds are kept in barren rows of cages.
Birds need to fly, but most cages are too small for flight, putting birds at risk of muscular atrophy, obesity, and depression.
In mills, unweaned babies are taken from their parents, putting them at risk of psychological problems, injury, or even death.
Birds have specialized diets that are difficult to replicate at home. Many popularized seed diets can lack essential nutrients.
Unable to socialize in flocks, captive birds can develop self-destructive behaviors like feather plucking and screaming.
Born in the grasslands of Australia.
Born in a hot, dark mill in Oklahoma.
Cared for and fed by their parents.
Torn from parents, fed by humans, scared and alone.
Chatting, exploring with parents, learning to fly.
Shipped in containers to pet store.
Meets lifetime mate.
Held in a small cage alone.
Flocking with hundreds of birds, flying in the sky.
Lonely and unable to fly, instead bites, screams, or plucks.
Dies beneath the sky with their family.
Dies alone in a cage, covered by a sheet.
Rescues and sanctuaries are struggling to keep up with the thousands of surrender requests they receive each year. Surrendered birds often exhibit extreme behavioral issues, so it can take months or years for them to find a new home.
Yet the pet industry floods stores in the US with millions of baby birds every year.
Bird sales drive the (legal and illegal) wildlife trade by increasing demand, which is pushing bird species like African grey parrots to extinction.
Removing birds from their natural habitats affects ecosystems, too. Birds are key pollinators and seed dispersers, and their absence contributes to habitat degradation and reduced biodiversity.
As people surrender their "pet" birds, rescues and sanctuaries struggle to keep up facing thousands of requests each year. Surrendered birds often exhibit extreme behavioral issues, so it can take months or years for a surrendered bird a new home.
Yet the pet industry floods stores in the US with millions of baby birds every year.
Bird sales drive the (legal and illegal) wildlife trade by increasing demand, which is pushing bird species like African grey parrots to extinction.
Removing birds from their natural habitats affects ecosystems, too. Birds are key pollinators and seed dispersers, and their absence contributes to habitat degradation and reduced biodiversity.
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