PBFD fighting the spread

wildheart

Banned
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Mar 16, 2010
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2
South Africa
I bought Sunny at an aviary where he was kept with African Greys, Cockatoos, Macaws and 2 other Ringnecks. They were all still being hand fed and some did not even have feathers yet. I did not like that they were kept together out in the open where people made contact with them as they pleased. Under normal circumstances I would not have bought Sunny but both my daughter and I fell in love when we saw him. After Sunny was set free my next step was to find the source.

I returned to the aviary to find the breeder - owner - well ANYBODY responsible. When we arrived there armed with dvd recorder and camera the place was crowded with public and the keeper was standing close by. I immediately told the public to move away from the babies because of positive PBFD and that by touching these birds they will spread the disease to their own birds and everywhere they go. The people where shocked and the keeper stood closer to hear what I was saying. Of course I started ripping out of hurt, sorrow and anger and he just stood there acting stupid. A white guy stood next to him and started talking to me, he did not introduce himself, oh no, I had to ask him who he was. It turned out that he was the owner, the EXACT person I was looking for.

He was VERY concerned with what I was saying and explained that he has a farm 2 hours away and only comes every 3 days to check on the business! How on earth can you manage an aviary without doing it hands on!!!!! :mad::mad::mad: I showed him how dirty the grids where (they werent really dirty) pointed out to him that ALL the babies where fed with the SAME tube and they are all in contact with each other so that meant that ALL of them are sick. We are talking of about 30 babies.:( I told him that the babies should not have contact with public because heaven knows where this disease came from and already spread to!

We agreed that he was going to completely change his setup and take them to be tested. He was also going to follow up with all the breeders where the babies came from and will keep me informed. I took all his details, took photos and recorded him and warned him that if he does not do it then I will destroy his name publicly.

I've been there since and he did make huge changes, the public has no contact with the babies any more and he showed me how/where he will quarantine any new babies.

He phoned me this morning to tell me that the result on the 10 that was tested all came back positive.:( They are all with Sunny now.:( This means that all of them will join Sunny later this afternoon.:(

His other birds, over a 100 of them, were about 15 meters away from the babies so we dont know if that would have been enough, especially because public and employees touched the babies and then moved in between the other bird cages. Even one feather caught by the wind is deadly enough to have spread it to his other birds.:(

He is going to have some of them tested on Monday.

The saddest part is that lots of babies where already sold - did these people quarantine? How many other birds at their homes are now also infected? The other 2 ringnecks that were there were sold to a couple that took them with to Botswana.:(

He offered to give me a full refund, how can you ever replace my heart with money?:(
 
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Printer bird

New member
Jan 4, 2011
268
1
Calgary, AB
Parrots
Dipper, 8 year old WC Pionus
RIP Charlie, Green Cheek Conure,
Lelu, parrotlet and
Poe the budgie.
Linky, it is only a small consolation but the work you are doing to stop the spread of this disease to other parrots and to stop this breeder from selling infected parrots is a great legacy for Sunny. It is absolutely awful that he (Sunny) and you had to go through this but it is good that this will help other parrots and future owners. It is awful that these conditions were in place to allow this to happen. :( My heart still breaks for you.
 

Spiritbird

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Aug 20, 2009
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Good job Linky. I am so impressed with what you are doing here. You are a born animal protector and should devote more of you time to this cause, that is if you can. I hope they kept records of who purchased the infected babies so they can be contacted. How many more aviaries are there in your area?
 
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wildheart

wildheart

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Mar 16, 2010
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South Africa
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Oh Tannie Di there are plenty! Bird for Africa is just across the road and they have hundreds of birds, I did speak to the owner there and warned him. There is no control here, everybody breeds as they please and then just drops a box of babies of at an Aviary or pet shop, as if those little souls are indispensable. :(
 

antoinette

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Jul 6, 2009
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Sunny South Africa !!!
Parrots
African "Grey"
"Mishka"
Male
7 Years old
You have done yourself proud Linky, telling the owner exactly what he needed to hear and to get the place in order Informing the public as well high five. It's amazing how little people actually know about birds, taking on such a big responsibility, without doing any research, not knowing what to expect.
So sad that Sunny and the other birds, innocent little creatures. lived such short life.

He offered to give me a full refund, how can you ever replace my heart with money

I would mention to him, that a little plague be made with Sunny's name on it, and be placed in the aviary, in memory of Sunny. Through Sunny's tragic event, many birds lives are going to being saved.
We all salute you for being so strong, taking a stand, and doing everything in your power to make a difference.

 

Spiritbird

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Aug 20, 2009
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Is there any chance some legislation could be passed to regulate the sale of companion birds? It truly sounds out of control in SA.
If it could be turned around to show that these birds could give the goverment a profit by breeders and aviaries need licenses it could work.
 

bells

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Dec 12, 2010
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Cape Town, sunny South Africa
Parrots
Dex-6yr old F HR cockatiel
Dee-Dee-6yr old wild-tamed F cockatiel
Charlie- 18mnth old U2 rehomed
You are such a strong lady. Takin time and passion to prevent what happened to you happening to others. Respect.
Spiritbird- it is so totally out of control!!! Not only breeding but no transport control across borders etc. 750 African Greys died in an airplane cargo hold on a flight from JHB to Durban on Christmas eve. They were wild-caught from Congo, due to be sold to SA breeders!! OUT OF CONTROL!!!!
 
OP
wildheart

wildheart

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Mar 16, 2010
1,374
2
South Africa
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Is there any chance some legislation could be passed to regulate the sale of companion birds? It truly sounds out of control in SA.
If it could be turned around to show that these birds could give the goverment a profit by breeders and aviaries need licenses it could work.

Tannie Di our government are even worse than the breeders in every sense that you can not even imagine. :(
 

apatrimo94

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Jun 15, 2010
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Hudson Valley, New York
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Bartleby-Pearl Cockatiel
S'mores-Albino Parakeet
Linky, you are a God-send. I respect you SO much more. You are a true role model and role guardian for any person who has any type of pet. You've been through so much and you come out stronger each time.

You guys should at least try to get in contact with your government to stop the trade. I understand how horrible things are over there, I learned about it in school last year. I wish there was something I could do over here to help all those poor birds and parrots.
 

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