Disease outbreak traced to Florida “bird mill”
January 1st, 2008 by admin
PetSmart has quarantined birds at its stores nationwide after several confirmed cases of psittocosis, a potentially very serious bacterial disease. Psittocosis, also known as “parrot fever,” can be transmitted from infected birds to humans and is especially dangerous to humans with weakened immune systems.
The outbreak began at a business in Milton (Santa Rosa County) called Preferred Birds.
At facilities like Preferred Birds, breeding birds are kept in barren cages for years while their babies are taken from them and sold into the pet trade. Preferred Birds ships as many as 100,000 birds each year to pet stores across the county!
ARFF encourages people never to buy a bird from a pet store or breeder. If you feel you are prepared to provide lifetime care for a bird, contact a local bird club or humane society to find a bird in need of adoption. For more information about exotic birds, click here to download ARFF’s brochure.
If you shop at PetSmart, ask the retailer to end its sale of live birds (encourage them to only offer birds for adoption, like the store’s excellent adoption program for dogs and cats).
Contact:
PetSmart online comment form.