DD Animal News – Heads up, bird lovers and animal advocates—New York is spreading its wings when it comes to protecting our feathered friends.
Assembly Bill A8327, recently introduced by Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, could ban the sale of birds in retail pet stores across the state. If passed, the bill would extend current protections for cats, dogs, and rabbits to include birds, marking a major milestone in the fight for animal welfare. While some exceptions will apply for certain domesticated bird species, the legislation takes direct aim at the exotic bird trade and the suffering it fuels.
Birds Aren’t Trinkets
We might love their colors, songs, and quirky personalities, but birds are wild at heart. Many of the birds sold in pet stores—like parrots, finches, and parakeets—didn’t start out in someone’s backyard aviary. They’re often plucked from the wild or bred in poor conditions. Wildlife trafficking is a global issue, and birds are one of its biggest victims.
Wildlife trafficking is responsible for millions of wild birds being taken from their natural habitats every year to meet demand in the pet industry. Many don’t survive the journey. Those who do may end up in cages far too small, denied socialization, mental stimulation, or even basic care. The result? A life of stress, isolation, and suffering…