February 26, 2025

Name: Heidi

Witness Statement: These photos clearly depict the abject mistreatment these birds suffer at the hands of retailers that have no regard for their welfare.  

I am in full support of bill H5214 that would end the sales of Parrots in RI.

January 5, 2025

Name: Dallas 

Witness Statement: It’s inhumane and a lot of people are not educated on parrots or birds before purchasing them. Pet co and pet smart sell them with out the true understanding of what’s needed to make sure they have a happy and healthy life. Even then it’s never enough, I am a parrot owner of an African Senegal that I befriended then ended up taking in. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I committed. I am in it for the long haul,he was 4months when I got him and now 15yrs old. but parrots or birds should not be pets. They demand things we aren’t able to give to support their natural behaviors and environment.

All and all pet co and pet smart makes birds and parrots too accessible and disposable.
Stop selling them and creating and adding to the problem.

December 6, 2024

Name: Marcia 

Witness Statement: The Petco in Brighton MA sells parakeets and some smaller parrots. The smaller parrots are housed in cages in a closed room within the store. I always visit that room to talk to the birds for a bit when I am in there. The last time I was in a few months ago, there was only one parrot all alone in a cage in the room with a sign on the room door that said "Employees Only". It was so sad. I went in anyway to interact with the young green-cheeked conure who seemed friendly and sweet (and was priced at a whopping $1500.00!). I asked one of the workers how often they interacted with the bird, and they said they do, but it was obviously alone most of the time in that closed, silent room. Broke my heart. I don't shop at Petco much at all anymore, just for emergency stuff.

June 19, 2024

Name: Athena 

Witness Statement: I am an avian veterinarian and I have seen so many birds come from PetSmart and Petco that have behavioral problems because they grow up in isolation and socially incapacitated…I recently saw the most heart breaking bird he was so frightened he was a danger to himself. The woman who purchased him said she was at the pets store to buy something for her dog but couldn’t ethically live with herself to leave this bird there alone. He had plucked himself completely naked on his sternum, abdomen, ventral wings, and had torn up half of his tail feathers. His remaining festhers were riddled with stress bars, evidence of barbering, mechanical damage (I’m sure from inappropriate housing and novice trained staff handling). The pet store sold him at a discount because he had been there for 6 months, already returned twice. People who buy birds at pet stores have no idea what they are getting into. No matter how many brochures are displayed about keeping a bird no one is really prepared until they have one. I see so many birds purchased from pet stores because people feel badly for them. This particular pet store said that this little green cheek conure with severe feather damaging behavior, generalized anxiety, a learned fear of hands— had started plucking all his feathers out after the bird next to him was sold and he was all alone. Pet stores are not equipped to adequately care for such deeply emotional and sentient creatures. Please stop selling birds.

May 28, 2024

Name: Nicole 

Witness Statement: Please stop selling birds!! I was just t the pet I in Royersford, PA where I saw a sick bird. Told the store clerk and they did nothing about it! Birds are intelligent creatures. Stop this cruel practice for your own greedy benefit!