EVERY BIRD BREEDER WHO SELLS ANY BIRD TO A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AS A PET WILL BE COVERED UNDER PAWS AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO USDA INSPECTION, HOUSING, CARE, RECORD KEEPING, AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS !!

PAWS, SB1139 and HB2669, is written so that it appears to focus only on dogs and cats. PAWS was introduced to Congress on May 26, 2005 by Senator Santorum and co-sponsored by Senator Durbin. However, the result of this poorly crafted legislation is that all warm blooded animals which are now covered by the Animal Welfare Act are also covered by PAWS: birds, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: EMAIL YOUR Senators and U.S. Representatives
1)EMAIL: Go to: http://capwiz.com/naiatrust/ to see the boxed "Alert SB1139" and click on "click here" to go to next page.
2) After you read the Alert message, enter your zip code in the box and click on "GO". Next you`ll see a page on which to write.
3) You can click on two or more "Talking Points", then type in your personal message, and press "Send" to send the e-mail.
SEND A COPY BY POSTAL MAIL
4) Check your e-mailbox, which will contain a copy of your e-mail to your Senators and U. S. Representatives. Copy it and paste it into your word processor. Print 2 copies, sign, and mail one copy to each Senator and Representative. If you do not receive the e-mail, repeat 1, 2, and 3 above and select the "letter" option.

5) Mail into Washington is delayed by two to four weeks but letters are significantly more effective than e-mail. (I`ve been told that the Representatives are much more likely to pay attention than Senators. Denny) U. S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515

6)FAX: Find your Senator's FAX number at senate.gov and FAX the second copy. FAX transmissions are almost as effective as snail mail. Also send FAX copies to the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee the Honorable Senator Saxby Chambliss. His FAX number is 202-224-0103.

7) Do not use your employer's e-mail without permission. Go to Kinko's etc. if you don't have a FAX.

8) Phone calls help: Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Saxby Chambliss, Chairman: phone: 202-224-3521, Senator Rick Santorum: phone: 202-224-6324, Senator Richard Durbin: 202-224-2152 U. S. House of Representatives: 202-224-3121
CHECK THE OPA WEBSITE WEEKLY FOR ALERT UPDATES: www.proaviculture.com
If PAWS is moved out of the Senate Agriculture Committee, we must target other committees.
For USPO mail to the Senate Agriculture Committee, address:
The Honorable Senator Saxby Chambliss
Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee
416 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Tom Harkin
731 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

For USPO mail to the sponsor and co-sponsor of PAWS, SB1139, address:

Senator Rick Santorum Senator Richard Durbin
511 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. 332 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510

Please be sure to place in the heading of your letters/faxes/e-mails your support or opposition to PAWS so that it is immediately clear that you are in favor of or opposed to this proposed legislation. Personal comments are valued because they illustrate how the legislation will affect you and your bird keeping. Always be polite and thank the legislators for their consideration.

From Denny:
There is another measure being implemented by the USDA and the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service: the National Animal Identification System. I have 44 printed pages about it but the general context is that the US government wants a way to track any outbreak of disease. On the surface, this seems like a good idea but the potential for misuse or abuse is great. Imagine all show secretaries being required to submit information on all exhibitors. Then, if a bird gets sick after attending a show, the APHIS or USDA can demand all records, track down all exhibitors, and "depopulate" all premises.

From the website: http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/index.shtml
The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is a national program intended to identify specific animals in the United States and record their movement over their lifespans. It is being developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and State agencies-in cooperation with industry-to enable 48-hour traceback of the movements of any diseased or exposed animal. This will help to ensure rapid disease containment and maximum protection of America's animals.

Mandatory implementation is scheduled for Jan. 2009. I`ve been told that dogs and cats are exempt from this which eliminates a potential groundswell of protest and large base of support for us. Sorry I can`t print more but deadline is here but please get involved.