Proposed Legislation In Wisconsin,
December 1997
BY LAURELLA DESBOROUGH
Copyright Laurella Desbrough (eclectusbreeder.com).
All rights reserved by the author.
AB514
A Wisconsin Assembly bill,
AB514, proposes the promulgation
of rules for the listing of
domestic animals and birds and
listing of certain "non-native
wild birds." It includes
proposed regulations on "captive
wild animal farms" and the
listing of humane treatment
standards for these animals
(birds) and requirements for
importing wild animals into
Wisconsin. Wild animals always
includes wild birds unless they
are specifically excluded. In
this case, wild birds mean
imported birds such as those
owned by many bird breeders.
Importation requirements mandate
that the importing party have
proper documents indicating that
the birds are possessed legally
and that their health status has
been documented. As reported by
staff, the intent of the bill in
terms of birds is to control
psittacosis. Psittacosis is not
considered to be a major threat
to human health. The U.S. Center
for Disease Control in Atlanta
indicates that psittacosis is
most commonly found in farm and
factory workers who slaughter
and process poultry for
marketing, not in pet bird
owners or bird breeders.
AB514 also provides the state
officials with seizure powers if
the requirements regarding
humane treatment and importation
are not met. Importation
includes any birds brought into
the state, such as for bird
shows or fairs. Whenever
regulations on animal farms or
humane treatment are put in
place, requirements for on-site
inspections can be mandated.
This bill appears to be poorly
drafted with overly broad
definitions and without regard
to the consequences to
aviculture. Copies of the bill
can be obtained from the
Wisconsin state document room at
(608) 266-2400.
