After alot of thought and reading the posts by various PC members. I wonder just how safe it will be to release the 24 birds held at the SPCA, sure the birds can only be adopted out "to people who dont own any birds". But there are stipulations to this rule, who says a year down the line these people wont go out and buy another bird-subjecting the new bird to PBFD. Or that they wont take their infected bird to a bird store to have it groomed. There is no law that states they cant have their bird groomed, and do you think knowing their bird is sick that they are going to notify the groomer to such ? I think not !! Because where else are they going to get an infected bird groomed, other than to learn to groom it themselves which many bird owners are afraid to do. Mostly out of fear of hurting the bird.

These birds should not be allowed to be adopted out there are too many risk factors. The SPCA may be able to control which homes the birds get adopted out to but thats where it stops. Once these people have ownership of these birds they are free to do as they like with THEIR birds, take them out into public, take them into pet stores, take them to get groomed at pet stores. This is a very serious matter that I feel is being taken way too lightly, everyone is concerned about which pet store has which disease but no one seems to be focused on the fact that in a very short time these INFECTED birds will be released to the public. And who knows what their intentions are, who knows if they are enimies of either bird store.

When pet stores groom birds along with the normal questions that are asked Ex: How old is the bird ?, Wings and nails ? What is your birds name ? Will they have to ask is your bird infected with PBFD ?

These birds should all be sent away to live in a PBFD aviary, like the PDD aviary in Florida. I dont know if one exists for PBFD, but that woulod be a great alternative for these birds. This way the birds not only will get to live out their lives but it will keep our birds safe from them. I may get alot of negative feedback but this is what free speech is for, I'm not sure who to contact but I think that a petition signed by many concerned bird lovers could stop the adoption of these birds (not likely though). Does anyone else have any other sugestions on how to prevent the adoption of these infected birds ?

I disagree, I highly doubt any of these birds would ever be adopted out to anyone less than golden in character and with a high respect for what they're getting into. They're not going to give it to Jane and John Doe down the road for their first bird. They'll go to heavily screened, well prepared owners who can accept the responsibility for long term, extensive and misrable vet bills. I know you're worried for the sake of the babies but I trust they're going to go to homes that would love them. If I had the money to cover the vet bills and Jean wasn't here, I'd offer up to take one in but I have those two things tying me down. I also think that the ASPCA where they were adopted from would gladly take them back for clippings and check ups because there are trained professionals there to help them with that. You don't have to worry about them they'll be okay.

Cassie - as you may or not know I have been working along with the SPCA to assure that these precious birds are adopted out to extremely knowledgable
people. They also have the manpower to follow up on these birds for quite some time. However, your questions are extremely valid and they are being taken into account for by the SPCA.

Cassie, you have a very valid point. In my mind I am not sure I can understand extremely knowledgeable applied to a first time bird owner. This is going to be the golden million dollar question.

Let me try to straighten this matter out. These birds will be adopted by people who have had experience with parrots. BUT because of their medical condition no home will have existing birds in it.
Furthermore, the SPCA is working under the watchful eye of N.J. Wildlife, Fish & Game. Dr. Branson Ritchie is also involved with the situation. All birds will have blood sample drawn from the "jugular vein" by Dr. Michael Weiss, and the samples will be sent to the lab designated by Dr. Ritchie.
You can get a little paranoid with this situation, however, what makes you think there aren't birds out there right now exposing diseases like PBFD and PDD to healthy birds. Every time we take our precious "fids" to a bird store to be groomed, shopping, to a bird mart, etc. we are putting them at risk!
Bottem line here we are responsbile to keep our healthy birds healthy!
AND, Cassie, while you are entitled to your own opinion, HOW DARE YOU say that the SPCA is taking this matter lightly! You are not there - you do not see the heartache, sweat, and tears everyone is pouring out over these birds. Everyone involved with them knows the risks involved and are doing their best to make sure they get the proper medical care (both now and in the future) and ultimately in their "forever" home with loving and responsible people!

i hope these birds do get the homes they deserve.....and spca i give a big appaud to for helping with this and not turning the other way where they could infect other birds....

Well in a highly charged issue like this everyone is concerned. I think it's to be expected.

For me, the concern was that a mistake could have happened like last year with the Psittacosis incident when the Atlantic County SPCA Investigator had adopted some Budgies, Tiels and Lovebirds out before knowing they were positive for psittacosis. This apparently was before Animal Welfare Association of Voorhees, NJ. got involved and contracted with vets to manage the decisions and processes. I forget the details I was following it then on anther site where the Animal Welfare Assoc was posting about it on behalf of the group. To keep everyone informed how to help like by donating to the vets:

David Kupersmith / Kenneth Dazen
(Dr. Dazen is a board certified avian vet)

So it's understandable to wonder if this other SPCA is getting good guidance and making informed decisions. Which it seems they are. Now, after working with Dr R.

I'm satisfied too, after speaking to the coordinator at the Cumberland SPCA today. As always, I go straight to the "horses mouth" for info. I feel they are fully informed of the various aspects of these birds' situation and will make compassionate and scientific decisions at least from how she spoke. But as always, we never really know what happens to an animal when they get sold or rehomed. And hope for the best. Since there are always more in crisis coming up in the pipeline, so to speak. IMO.

Patsnest, I agree with you. We can't possibly know what the status is of every animal we take on. Nobody has xray vision and we're not clairvoyant. Nor are the people we get them from.

Example, my Parrotlets I was advised by Dr McKinley and other vets to pass up bloodwork due to the risks not being worth the benefit. So far so good.

Since exposures and different conditions seem to be frequent in certain types of birds etc, I think it's really good to keep ours in the best shape we can, strong immune systems, good routines etc. And of course to use the best possible avian vet we can find or afford.

I have a Budgie hen who came here with advanced lipomas and she's the loudest, most curious of her environment, and first to zoom out of the cage in the morning for the day. She's 10 grams heavier than her mate and despite that, more active and with greater stamina. (thanks to flying, diet and Co Q10).

I would go even one step further and have that "best possible A.V." come over to your house and do the tests/exams there - after of course ya hose him/her down first (outside in the driveway) with a high pressure commercial quality pressure cleaner with a Vanodine (etc.) dispenser attached.

Thanks, Cindy - and good Lord let's hope there are no more "pipelines'' like this one!