|
Mistreated animals: How you can help
YOUR NEXT-DOOR neighbor backhands his green Amazon parrot because it "gets on his nerves." The local
pet shop always seems to have sick cockatiels for sale. Maybe you've dropped a hint that you've noticed the mistreatment and don't approve. Maybe you've even offered to take the bird off the abuser's hands. But no dice.
Now what?
Bird lovers generally have a tougher time freeing their favorite creatures from cruel owners than others do helping dogs, cats and other animals.
That's because animal cruelty laws do not do a particularly good job of serving birds. In some states, local officials will remove an abused bird only if it happens to be part of a larger collection of
abused dogs, cats, horses or other animals. Even if a state sets out a specific statute regarding birds, it may address
only the minimum requirements for food, housing and transportation.
If a pet bird seems ill or underfed, the best you may be able to do is to casually offer some friendly advice on how
the bird might respond better to different treatment. If the abuse is dramatic and witnessed by others, you have a better
chance of involving the police and getting the bird removed by authorities.
Pet store proprietors may be more resistant to overtures of concern about their animals than pet owners.
Many view animals and birds in particular as little more than inventory on which to make a profit.
Questioning a bird's health may
result in it being hidden in a back room or destroyed. In the case of pet-store neglect, the safest course usually is to
remove the bird first and speak with the proprietor afterward.
If you have witnessed abuse of a bird or any other animal and want to help, here are a few guidelines to get you started. They are a combination of
advice from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People, People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals, and the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
- First, find out who investigates and enforces anti-cruelty codes in your town, county or state. It usually is the
local humane society or SPCA.
- If the local shelter does not have the authority to help, call or visit your local police department or sheriff's
office. Take along a copy of your state's statutes on animal cruelty. You should be able to find these at your local
library. An attorney in your area who specializes in animal cases will also be familiar with local law. You can request
a list of attorneys in your area by e-mailing the Animal Legal Defense Fund at
info@aldf.org or calling (707) 769-7771.
In most states, causing an animal "unnecessary suffering" is illegal.
- Provide law enforcement officers with a written statement of what you and other witnesses have observed, including
dates and times. If possible, also provide photographs. Let them know you stand by to assist with prosecution in any way.
Find out when they plan to investigate and call the following day to see if any action was taken.
- If police are uncooperative, you have several other options. One is to go to the local police commissioner and
swear out a warrant to summon the accused person to court. You can help your case by having as many expert witnesses as
possible sign written affidavits attesting to the bird's condition. A good expert witness might be your avian vet or the
local avian rescuer.
- Another option is to notify your city or county health department. Animal abuse often involves unsafe or unsanitary
conditions for humans. In the case of birds, psittacosis found in a store or breeding facility qualifies it for shutdown.
- If these measures fail, notify the local media. Bad press can motivate some people to clean up their acts.
|
As a last resort, you may want to offer to buy an abused bird so you can help it. Some animal advocates don't recommend
this because it rewards the abuser. However, in some cases, it may be the only way to prove to health authorities that a
facility houses birds with communicable diseases.
ParrotChronicles.com
-------
|
Community