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The first step to making meaningful, lasting change for animals is to know what happens to them. Birds were long excluded from coverage under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), but AAVS fought for over two decades so that birds not bred for research could have legal protection—and we won! So on this National Bird Day, we not only want to celebrate birds for the amazing animals they are, but also to ensure that concerned people like you know how they are exploited for science. Nearly 63,400 birds now covered under the AWA were used or held in labs in 2024, with thousands experiencing pain or distress—including over 700 who received no pain relief. Our feature article “The Canaries in the Coal Mine,” from the first issue of our redesigned A-V magazine, uncovers the many problems with federal oversight of animal experimentation, and also provides examples of how birds suffer and die in labs. We are far more aware of their suffering because of the successful lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture filed by AAVS and the Avian Welfare Coalition, the organization that started National Bird Day. Join AAVS in recognizing National Bird Day by sharing this e-mail to educate others about the suffering of birds used or held in labs. The more you share, the more others will care!
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