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Take Action for Birds Today!

Dear John,

For the last 50 years, birds have been excluded from protections afforded other animals under the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Now, 20 years after the animal welfare community won a lawsuit against the US Department of Agriculture challenging this exclusion (as well as the exclusion of other species), a process to establish standards for birds has finally begun. During those 20 years, certain members of Congress tried (mostly unsuccessfully) to declare that birds are not "animals" under the AWA, the USDA made hollow assurances that regulations extending coverage to birds were forthcoming, and yet another lawsuit had to be filed.

As a result of that lawsuit--resolved this year in favor of the birds--the USDA is under court order to come up with care standards to cover wild-caught birds used in experimentation, as well as birds used in roadside zoos and other exhibits, circuses and other forms of "entertainment," and the pet trade. But those industry organizations and individuals who want to continue abusing and exploiting birds without restriction put significant pressure on the USDA during several "listening sessions" set up for the government to receive public input, so it is crucial that the department hear from you in support of strict care standards that don't exempt any birds from coverage. No specific regulations have been proposed yet; this is our chance to influence the process early!

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What You Can Do
Please submit comments ([link removed]) on this proposal by October 29 urging the USDA to enact the strongest possible standards of care for birds. Then share our "Dear Humanitarian" eAlert with family, friends, and co-workers, and encourage them to contact the USDA as well.

As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
President

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Note: When you submit comments through AWI's website, your name and comments will be publicly viewable on the official comment page at Regulations.gov. You may prefer to submit your comments anonymously at [link removed] ([link removed])

Photo by Damon Hall

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Animal Welfare Institute
900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 337-2332 | www.awionline.org ([link removed])

The Animal Welfare Institute is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. We seek better treatment of animals everywhere: in the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild.

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900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003