January 29, 2008 Pennsylvania Legislative Update

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Pennyslvania Legislative Update

January 29, 2008

I have just received a call from Kristy Garcia of The Coalition of Pennsylvania Aviculturists (TOCPA), and Kelly Williams of the American Federation of Aviculture (AFA), who, together with Rick Rowland of TOCPA, attended all sessions of the Pennsylvania Game Commission to advocate for the rights of bird owners to own and keep their Nanday Conures and other exotic birds in Pennsylvania.

Kristy and Kelly asked me to relay the good news that Nanday Conures have been removed from the proposal to amend 58 PA Code Section 137.1.

This means that Nanday Conures WILL NOT BE BANNED IN PENNSYLVANIA.

Kristy, Rick, and Kelly will have more information later today or tomorrow when they issue their full report to us. Right now they are on their way home, and will be taking a well-deserved rest from their three days of advocating for you and your birds.

Kelly wanted us to know that the Commissioners thanked them and all who appeared at the hearing, for their politeness, organization, professionalism, and thoroughness in addressing the Commission. They said that it is obvious that we all love our birds and they were impressed that so many people took the time to come before the Commission and advocate for them.

I want to personally say THANK YOU to Kristy, Kelly, and Rick, and everyone who called, faxed, wrote, emailed, and attended the hearing. Each person who got involved played an important part in this victory for bird owners and our birds. Without your help the Nanday Conure would have been banned in Pennsylvania. With your help we were able to show the Commission that a ban of this bird was not necessary either to protect human health or wildlife habitat.

I hope that each of you who responded this time will view this victory as a learning experience, and that you will continue to respond when we ask for help fighting other restrictive animal proposals that come up in other areas.

Thank you again.

Genny Wall
AFA Legislative VP

To view the letter that AFA President Jim Hawley wrote to the Pennsylvania Game Commission regarding the proposal to prohibit Nandy Conures in the state of Pennsylvania, click here. Note that you will need Adobe Reader to view this file.