Aviary Disease Outbreak Occurs at Pet Store
by Ben Lipson
Posted on May 21, 2002
An outbreak of psittacosis, a disease similar to pneumonia that is contracted by birds, recently occurred at a
pet store in a town in northern New Jersey.
One bird — a white-crowned Pionus — died at about the same time a macaw in the store began to exhibit symptoms of the contagious disease. According to a store employee, other birds have since begun displaying symptoms as well.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recently reported that it has received many complaints about the treatment of birds in
pet stores. Some of the complaints have come from patrons who’d not been informed that birds they had purchased were afflicted with psittacosis.
Pet stores in San Rafael, CA, and Davis, CA have in the recent past been quarantined because of outbreaks of the disease.
"These birds are clearly ill suited to the wretched conditions they encounter," said PETA cruelty caseworker Lindsay Gardewin.
Source
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Press release, May 13, 2002
Outbreak of Bird Disease, Contagious to Humans, Hits Petco Store
© 2002 Animal News Center, Inc. - Posted with permission
