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nanday alert
Topic Started: Jan 13 2008, 01:58 PM (801 Views)
Kelli
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:WAVE:

ATTENTION PENNSYLVANIANS: KILLING CONURES
THE PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSION IS IN THE PROCESS OF AMENDING THE PA LAW TO PROHIBIT THE IMPORTATION,POSSESSION, SALE AND RELEASE OF THE NANDAY CONURE IN PENNSYLVANIA. THERE WILL BE NO GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS. IF YOU OWN A NANDAY CONURE THEY WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO COME INTO YOUR HOME AND KILL IT. GEE HOW NICE IS THAT!!! THAT'S OUR WONDERFUL GOVERNMENT FOR YOU. WHAT NEXT? WILL THEY BAN THE OWNERSHIP OF ALL PARROTS? PLEASE WRITE TO THE PA GAME COMMISSION AND TELL THEM TO STOP THIS BILL. IT IS THOUGHT THE BAN IS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THE CONURE CAN SURVIVE IN PA AND POSE A THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH/SAFETY AND A THREAT TO WILDLIFE. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE CONURE CAN ESCAPE THEIR HOMES AND SPREAD BIRD FLU AND PSITTACOSIS TO THE WILD BIRDS. THEY NEED TO BE EDUCATED BECAUSE IT'S THE WILD BIRDS THAT POSE THE THREAT TO OUR PET BIRDS.
THE NEXT MEETING ON THIS SUBJECT IS IN HARRISBURG, PA ON JANUARY 27, 28 AND 29TH. THEY ARE ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON THIS SUBJECT UNTIL JANUARY 27TH AND YOU CAN SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO:
Pennsylvania Game Commission
2001 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797
(717) 787-4250
pgccomments@state.pa.us
ALSO WRITE TO ALL THE PA LEGISLATORS TO URGE THEM NOT TO PASS SUCH A LAW.


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hal9000
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I read that on another forum! Horrible stupid people! Why only nandays? :angrysmiley: :angryyell: :reallyangry: :nuts:
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conure58
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I just read the proposal HERE and even though it says possession in it, I find it hard to believe that they'd go into a person's home and take their Nanday. It doesn't say anything like that in the proposal anyway. I just sent an email to the Pennsylvania Game Commission asking about that (coming and taking their Nandays). If I hear anything back, I'll post it here.
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BUUZBEE
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its very sad :(
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conure58
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Well, I got an answer.
Here's what I wrote:

To whomever,
I'm just wondering about the proposed changes to Amendment 58 Pa.Code, §137.1, specifically the part concerning Nanday Conures. If this were to become law, would all current Nanday Conure owner's be required to give their birds up to be euthanized? I read the proposal, but it doesn't really say if the ones currently in the State are allowed to be kept or not. There is a lot of information (or mis-information) being circulated among the Parrot boards and forums on the net that says that you will be able to go into a person's home and take their Nanday(s). As a Conure owner myself (not of a Nanday though), I would like to know what the law will be, if passed. Plus, it concerns me that if you choose Nandays now (and Quakers previously), what's to stop you from banning the ownership of all Parrots.

Thanks for any response. Please forward this to whomever can answer..

Mark



Here is their answer:

Thank you for your comments, which I will share with the Board.

Didn't really answer my question, did it?
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hal9000
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I sent them one too.

Dear Pennsylvania Game Commission,



This is regarding the banning of owning Nanday Conures. The thing is these birds do not carry bird flu, it is the wild birds who pose a threat to our pet birds, not the other way around. It isn't something a pet bird can suddenly catch, it needs to come in contact with a wild bird carrying the virus to get it. Why not ban the owning of all pet birds, because they could all possibly get it couldn't they? I am an owner of conures, and I run a re-homing service for pet birds. I also moderate the online Conure community "Conure Crazy" (www.conurecrazy.com). None of them have gotten sick and I have never seen nor heard of a pet bird getting bird flu.



Thank you.

Haley
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conure58
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Found some new info. This is quoted from another website:

There IS a grandfather clause for pet birds ... just not stated. One of the admin on my board is a PA Wildlife Rehabber so went “directly to the horse’s mouth” so to speak. Pet birds are TOTALLY safe. It is breeders who are stating that they are not safe in hopes of having pet bird owners to jump on their band wagon. Breeders don’t want the law to pass because it’s hurts the purse ... they will no longer be allowed to breed. The reason for the law is to head off any potential problems the birds can create.

Here is a C&P of the post from the board and the link so that you can see for yourself (if you so desire).

There has been much panic associated with the proposed regulation banning Nanday Conures in Pennsylvania. Petitions are circulating stating that none will be grandfathered and pets will be confiscated. This is a rumor that IS NOT TRUE!.

I contacted PGC Jason Decosky, head of Special Permits and Wildlife Conservation in the Harrisburg (main) office of the PA Game Commission and this is his reply to my inquiry regarding grandfathering:


Quote:
 

Peggy,

The intent of this regulation was to prevent, by regulation, the importation of Nanday Conures into the Commonwealth. The PGC has done this with other species and through agency procedures grandfathered all existing animals in the Commonwealth as long as they had documentation that that animal was pre-act. The agency is not interested in existing Nandays, however in the interest of our native wildlife; we do not to allow the importation of more Nandays. A good example would be the Quaker or Monk Parakeet. The regulations did not spell out a grandfather clause but a internal letter stated that there was one. I hope this helps you out. I will be out of the office all week and will be back in on the 24th. Thanks Peggy!

Jason

Please Cross Post


http://secondchancebirds.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4753
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BUUZBEE
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From the International Conure Association:

Quote:
 
From: AFA-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AFA-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of gennygem2@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 4:16 PM
To: Gennygem2@aol.com
Subject: [AFA-Talk] Pennsylvania Nandays are NOT grandfathered in the existing PA Code proposal

Cross posting permitted - you may share this information with interested parties and post it to online lists.

I have been informed that there are some people circulating the email quoted below, and that they are incorrectly advising people not to worry about the presently pending proposal to ban possession of Nandays in Pennsylvania. 

Unfortunately the quoted, "PGC Jason Decosky, head of Special Permits and Wildlife Conservation in the Harrisburg (main) office of the PA Game Commission", or any other employee of the Pennsylvania government, does not have the authority to violate Pennsylvania law as set forth in the Pennsylvania Code.    Government employees are required to obey the law as it is written.

The fact is there is no grandfather clause in the pending proposal (which is a proposal to amend 
existing Pennsylvania Code Title 58 (Recreation), Part III (Game Commission), Chapter 137 (Wildlife), subsection 137.1 (importation, sale, and release of certain wildlife)  ).    The existing Pennsylvania Code can be read at:
http://www.pacode.com/secure/browse.asp

The proposed amendment can be read at (starting on page 42 of the PDF file)
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=481&q=163334

If the drafters of this amendment (presently before the Game Commission) wanted a grandfather clause they could have easily included one in the pending proposal to change the Pennsylvania Code.    They could also present a proposed regulation specifically grandfathering existing Nandays in Pennsylvania from the requirements of this new Code section prohibiting the "possession" of Nandays.    They have done neither. 

The assurances of individual game commission staff members, or any other state employees, while perhaps well-intentioned, are not the law.  The language of the law and related regulations will control, and as the proposal is now worded, it will be illegal for anyone to possess Nandays without a permit (which is not available to pet owners).   

In fact, the word "possession" does not now appear in the existing Pennsylvania Code section noted, and the word "possession" is specifically being inserted by this proposal into the existing law (in addition to adding Nandays to the section that previously only banned Quakers).

A reasonable person has to ask why would the Game Commission, or anyone else, go to the trouble of amending the law in question to specifically outlaw "possession" with no grandfather clause if that was not exactly what they had in mind?

-----------------
Grandfathering claim being circulated:

"There has been much panic associated with the proposed regulation banning Nanday Conures in Pennsylvania. Petitions are circulating stating that none will be grandfathered and pets will be confiscated. This is a rumor that IS NOT TRUE!.

I contacted PGC Jason Decosky, head of Special Permits and Wildlife Conservation in the Harrisburg (main) office of the PA Game Commission and this is his reply to my inquiry regarding grandfathering:

Peggy,

The intent of this regulation was to prevent, by regulation, the importation of Nanday Conures into the Commonwealth. The PGC has done this with other species and through agency procedures grandfathered all existing animals in the Commonwealth as long as they had documentation that that animal was pre-act. The agency is not interested in existing Nandays, however in the interest of our native wildlife; we do not to allow the importation of more Nandays. A good example would be the Quaker or Monk Parakeet. The regulations did not spell out a grandfather clause but a internal letter stated that there was one. I hope this helps you out. I will be out of the office all week and will be back in on the 24th. Thanks Peggy!

Jason"


Genny

The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit of happiness. They recognized the significance of man's spiritual nature, of his feelings and of his intellect. They knew that only a part of the pain, pleasure and satisfactions of life are to be found in material things. They sought to protect Americans in their beliefs, their thoughts, their emotions and their sensations. They conferred, as against the government, the right to be let alone - the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men. To protect that right, every unjustifiable intrusion by the government upon the privacy of the individual, whatever the means employed, must be deemed a violation of the Fourth Amendment. And the use, as evidence in a criminal proceeding, of facts ascertained by such intrusion must be deemed a violation of the Fifth.
--Justice Louis Brandeis OLMSTEAD v. U.S., 277 U.S. 438 (1928)
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BUUZBEE
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Keep the letters, calls and faxes coming! It appears the concern is that the birds could get loose and become crop pests. Margie is a PA resident.

Here is the link to basic information: http://www.conure.org/Resources/Agenda-%20...sion%201-08.pdf


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conure58
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Jan 16 2008, 05:21 PM
From the International Conure Association:

Quote:
 
From: AFA-Talk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AFA-Talk@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of gennygem2@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 4:16 PM
To: Gennygem2@aol.com
Subject: [AFA-Talk] Pennsylvania Nandays are NOT grandfathered in the existing PA Code proposal

Cross posting permitted - you may share this information with interested parties and post it to online lists.

I have been informed that there are some people circulating the email quoted below, and that they are incorrectly advising people not to worry about the presently pending proposal to ban possession of Nandays in Pennsylvania. 

Unfortunately the quoted, "PGC Jason Decosky, head of Special Permits and Wildlife Conservation in the Harrisburg (main) office of the PA Game Commission", or any other employee of the Pennsylvania government, does not have the authority to violate Pennsylvania law as set forth in the Pennsylvania Code.    Government employees are required to obey the law as it is written.

The fact is there is no grandfather clause in the pending proposal (which is a proposal to amend 
existing Pennsylvania Code Title 58 (Recreation), Part III (Game Commission), Chapter 137 (Wildlife), subsection 137.1 (importation, sale, and release of certain wildlife)  ).     The existing Pennsylvania Code can be read at:
http://www.pacode.com/secure/browse.asp

The proposed amendment can be read at (starting on page 42 of the PDF file)
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=481&q=163334

If the drafters of this amendment (presently before the Game Commission) wanted a grandfather clause they could have easily included one in the pending proposal to change the Pennsylvania Code.    They could also present a proposed regulation specifically grandfathering existing Nandays in Pennsylvania from the requirements of this new Code section prohibiting the "possession" of Nandays.    They have done neither.  

The assurances of individual game commission staff members, or any other state employees, while perhaps well-intentioned, are not the law.   The language of the law and related regulations will control, and as the proposal is now worded, it will be illegal for anyone to possess Nandays without a permit (which is not available to pet owners).   

In fact, the word "possession" does not now appear in the existing Pennsylvania Code section noted, and the word "possession" is specifically being inserted by this proposal into the existing law (in addition to adding Nandays to the section that previously only banned Quakers).

A reasonable person has to ask why would the Game Commission, or anyone else, go to the trouble of amending the law in question to specifically outlaw "possession" with no grandfather clause if that was not exactly what they had in mind?

-----------------
Grandfathering claim being circulated:

"There has been much panic associated with the proposed regulation banning Nanday Conures in Pennsylvania. Petitions are circulating stating that none will be grandfathered and pets will be confiscated. This is a rumor that IS NOT TRUE!.

I contacted PGC Jason Decosky, head of Special Permits and Wildlife Conservation in the Harrisburg (main) office of the PA Game Commission and this is his reply to my inquiry regarding grandfathering:

Peggy,

The intent of this regulation was to prevent, by regulation, the importation of Nanday Conures into the Commonwealth. The PGC has done this with other species and through agency procedures grandfathered all existing animals in the Commonwealth as long as they had documentation that that animal was pre-act. The agency is not interested in existing Nandays, however in the interest of our native wildlife; we do not to allow the importation of more Nandays. A good example would be the Quaker or Monk Parakeet. The regulations did not spell out a grandfather clause but a internal letter stated that there was one. I hope this helps you out. I will be out of the office all week and will be back in on the 24th. Thanks Peggy!

Jason"


Genny

The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit of happiness. They recognized the significance of man's spiritual nature, of his feelings and of his intellect. They knew that only a part of the pain, pleasure and satisfactions of life are to be found in material things. They sought to protect Americans in their beliefs, their thoughts, their emotions and their sensations. They conferred, as against the government, the right to be let alone - the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men. To protect that right, every unjustifiable intrusion by the government upon the privacy of the individual, whatever the means employed, must be deemed a violation of the Fourth Amendment. And the use, as evidence in a criminal proceeding, of facts ascertained by such intrusion must be deemed a violation of the Fifth.
--Justice Louis Brandeis OLMSTEAD v. U.S., 277 U.S. 438 (1928)

I emailed the ICA with your post, Anna (just to get verification - there's so many rumors on whether there will be a 'grandfather' clause or not). Got this back from the ICA President:

Sent: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 7:46 pm
Subject: RE: PA Nanday Ban


It is interesting how posts get changed from their original format.

If you are in Pennsylvania, be sure to write a letter in opposition to this legislation. It is a dangerous precedence for all other birds kept in captivity.

I have copied and pasted the original message below. Gennygem2@aol.com is Genny Wall, AFA Legislative Committee Chair. The info you sent is only pieces and parts of what I sent out a few days ago.

Cheryl Burns
ICA President

Original Post --- (below)

The International Conure Association received notification via our website that there is legislation in works in Pennsylvania to outlaw the possession of the Nanday conure. If passed, this law will not “grandfather” any Nandays currently kept as pets. The birds will become illegal. They will be subject to confiscation to be destroyed as pests. Quakers already are illegal in Pennsylvania.

Genny Wall, AFA Legislative VP and Legislative Committee Chair, spoke to the Pennsylvania Game Commission office to obtain more information. They will accept public comments at their meeting which starts on Sunday January 27th and carries through to January 28 and 29. For those who are unable to attend, be sure to submit your comments before 1/27/08. (Contact information at the end of this post.)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Genny’s comments and advice:

I spoke with the Game Commission office, and they tell me they will accept public comments at their meeting which starts on Sunday January 27th and carries through to January 28 and 29. A link to the Agenda for that meeting is at the end of this email.

You may share this information with others who oppose the current proposal in Pennsylvania and urge them to ACT NOW to defeat this proposal.

This proposal which is now before the Game Commission seeks to amend PA law to prohibit the "importation, possession, sale, and release" of Nanday conures in Pennsylvania "in response to human health/safety and wildlife habitat health purposes". Monk (Quaker) parakeets are already prohibited. There is no "grandfather" clause in this proposal - that generally means that Nandays already in PA would also become illegal and subject to confiscation and euthanasia as pests if this proposal becomes law.

The Executive Director and staff of the Game Commission "recommend the Commission approve these changes". Given that recommendation, unless voters in PA step up at this meeting to oppose this proposal, I can only assume it will pass. Your "job" is to let your government know what you want. Once a law such as this is enacted it is almost impossible to get it repealed. Now it the time to act.

I recommend that you (and any other bird folks you can round up) appear at the Game Commission meeting to present comments in opposition to the proposal - preferably on Sunday the 27th so that you are sure to be given time to speak - but they may delay you to the 28th or 29th, so be prepared for that. Be prepared to submit your comments in writing as well as orally, in case you don't get the chance to speak. Try to keep your written comments to one page.

Keep in mind these officials are just people doing a job. Don't be afraid to appear at the meeting and testify. Address them politely, as human beings, and you should be able to make your points.

The clerk I spoke with told me that generally people are given a few minutes, maybe 5 max, to make their points. Each speaker should be prepared ahead of time, with a short, focused, businesslike presentation, which they can read aloud. Be sure the presentations focus on the following two points (once you make those points you can let them know you are a human who owns and loves her pet birds, but that shouldn't be the main focus). DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PUBLICLY AT THE MEETING OR ANYWHERE ELSE THAT YOU OWN A NANDAY.

The two points the Game Commission will be focusing on are the claims that Nandays threaten human health and safety and wildlife habitat. You need to be prepared to negate both of those claims. Keep in mind, if Nandays can now be claimed to be a threat to human health and safety, any parrot or other bird can be added later. Same for the wildlife habitat health claim. Do your homework and prepare yourself with documentation to counter at least these two claims.

Be sure those who testify for your position are well dressed and act professionally - I can assure you that the proponents of this bill will not be appearing in T shirts. Do not go into "I love my pet and this law isn't fair for my pets......" The Game Commission is not concerned with our love of our pets - they are charged with the responsibility of protecting the wildlife of PA, and unless you can rationally argue that Nandays don't threaten human health and safety or wildlife habitat in PA, this law is likely to pass.

I was not able to obtain any written supporting documentation from the proponents which shows that Nandays threaten human health and safety or wildlife habitat in PA (if in fact they have any, other than their claims). You can ask for a copy of their documentation at the hearing, but try not to have them read it into the record, since if that tactic is used, you won't have time to read, evaluate, and respond to it. Ask the Commission to give you a copy or that they mail it to you so that you will have time to address their claims. Ask the Commission not to adopt the proposal at this meeting, or at least to delay any vote to a future meeting to give you and other opponents of the proposal time to read and respond to any of the Commission's materials that support their proposal. Remember, this bill has to be voted on by the Game Commission if it is to become law, and a vote delayed is a vote not taken.

I would expect the "human health and safety" claims to include claims that Nandays transmit psittacosis (chlamydia) and bird flu. Be prepared for those claims. Psittacosis, while transmissible to humans from birds, is treatable with antibiotics both for birds and humans, and is not usually life threatening. Parrots have not been shown to transmit bird flu, and the dreaded "worldwide pandemic of bird flu" has not come to pass - in the 10 years or so it has been circulating in Southeast Asia only about 100 people have died - that is not a worldwide pandemic.

You have a job to do (protecting Nandays in PA) and I assume you can do it. Get others to go with you, and if you present a united front, you may be able to stop this proposal.

For those who can appear and testify - do so.

For those who can't appear, submit written comments before 1/27/08.

Pennsylvania Game Commission
2001 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797
(717) 787-4250
pgccomments@state.pa.us

The Agenda for the 1/27 - 1/29 meeting is at this link (warning – large file over 5 mb – don’t try this on dialup):
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=481&q=163334

Section of the agenda with proposed changes:
http://www.conure.org/Resources/Agenda-%20...sion%201-08.pdf

The contact information for the Game Commission is
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=481&q=153205

Let me know if you have any questions.

Genny Wall
AFA Legislative VP and Legislative Committee Chair
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