New York Assembly Bill 8327 (A8327) was introduced on May 13 by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan). A8327 amends section 753-f of the general business law to ban all pet bird sales in pet shops by adding birds to the sales ban on dogs, cats, and rabbits.

 

The author makes false claims that selling pet birds “fuels wildlife trafficking, decimating wild populations and disrupting ecosystems.” Of course, that is untrue, as pet birds for sale in the U.S. are almost exclusively domestically bred. More claims are made regarding the unregulated nature of bird breeding (which is heavily regulated), and the implication that baby birds are only removed from nests so adult birds can breed again sooner. The truth is that hand-reared birds have better survival rates and are socialized in manner that better adapts them to their lives as pets.

 

Pet shops would not be permitted to sell birds from breeders, even though they either breed their birds or purchase them from select breeders. Over 400 species of birds would be impacted, including parakeets, canaries, finches, cockatiels, lovebirds, parrots, macaws, cockatoos, and many more. Bills like this one have one goal, to end the keeping of pet birds in the United States. They are government overreach, without any doubt.

 

The only birds that will still be permitted to be sold (though they are not typically sold in pet shops) are domesticated game birds as defined in paragraph a of subdivision four of section 11-0103 of the Environmental Conservation Law (meaning ducks, geese, brant, swans, pheasants, quail, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, Chukar partridge, and Hungarian or European gray-legged partridge, propagated under a domestic game bird breeder's license), along with chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, peafowl, and pigeons.

 

The bill was assigned to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and would take effect 180 days after passage.

 

Read the bill text and misinforming memo at https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=A08327&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y.

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Find Committee member information at https://nyassembly.gov/comm/?id=2.​

 

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Subject line: : NO to A8327
 

Standing Committee on Agriculture Members,
 

I oppose Assembly Bill 8327 (A8327) as a New York resident and responsible animal owner. This bill unfairly portrays all bird breeders and pet shops as guilty of animal cruelty. New York already has animal cruelty laws, including, but not limited to, Aggravated cruelty to animals N.Y. AGRI & MKTS LAW § 353-a, Overdriving, torturing and injuring animals N.Y. AGRI & MKTS LAW § 353, Abandonment of animals N.Y. AGRI & MKTS LAW § 355, and Carrying animals in a cruel manner N.Y. AGRI & MKTS LAW § 359. These, along with other laws, can be enforced in cases of animal cruelty and inhumane care.
 

Additionally, pet shops and bird breeders are heavily regulated. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees both. A8327 is a redundant law. Animals in pet shops are already protected under multiple layers of laws and regulations.
 

New York legislators should prioritize our state’s resources on more significant matters than drafting redundant laws proposed by extreme interests. No one is more committed to the well-being of pet birds than the citizens of New York who bring birds into their lives, including the owners of bird specialty shops and breeders of pet birds. The individuals advancing this bill are an ill-informed and/or a disingenuous minority that do not speak for the majority of your constituents.
 

Please listen to the voice of the real animal advocates, like myself, and stop A8327 before this harmful bill further advances the radical animal rights agenda aimed at eliminating all pets from our lives. 
 

Thank you for your time and have a great day.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME and zip code