Legislative Alert - 1/6/2007

Proposed Amendment to the Illinois State Animal Welfare Act
(HB-4612)

BIRD OWNERS AND BREEDERS OR ANYONE THAT WANTS TO STOP THE ANIMAL RIGHT AGENDA!

Once again, we must act fast! 

On Tuesday, there will be a hearing for HB4612 { http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=4612&GAID=8&GA=94&
DocTypeID=HB&LegID=22989&SessionID=50
} which is another ploy at stopping the breeding and handraising of birds in Illinois! The bill, at first glance, appears to target pet stores but this will, indeed, affect all bird breeders and owners who want a handraised pet in their home. If recent history is any indication, its only a matter of time before it spreads to the rest of the country!

This bill is supported by PETA, a well-known "Animal Rights" group which wants no one to keep animals in the home. This legislation has as its main goal to take away our right to breed birds and keep them as pets. One of the supporters of this bill has specifically said "...hand-feeding baby birds can cause the animals lasting physical and behavior problems that can lead to abuse, neglect, or abandonment." This is not true and has no basis! We must educate our Legislators who do not understand what it means to share your home with a bird.

Click here to see a copy of the proposed admendment (pdf).

YOU MUST STOP THIS! Your diligence helped stop previous legislation... we all need YOU to help again!

Make a quick PHONE CALL AND EMAIL to the following representatives BEFORE TUESDAY, JANUARY 9th! We need to flood their mailboxes with our concerns.

Start every contact with:

"I OPPOSE HB4612 and believe my rights as a bird owner/breeder should be protected!"

CONTACT ALL OF THESE REPRESENTATIVES' NOW! DO NOT WAIT!

CONTACT INFORMATION

NOTE: I have replaced the @ symbol in e-mail addresses with -AT- so that we don't inadvertently cause our representatives to be flooded with spam. This probably wouldn't reflect very well on us or help our case.

  • Representative Karen May (D)
    58th District
    Springfield Office:
    255-S Stratton Office Building
    Springfield, IL 62706
    (217) 782-0902
    (217) 557-7214 (FAX)
    karenmay58
    -AT-aol.com
    District Office:
    210 Skokie Valley Road, Suite 12
    Highland Park, IL 60035
    (847) 831-5858
    (847) 831-3454 (FAX)
  • Representative Barbara Flynn Currie (D)
    25th District
    Springfield Office:
    300 Capitol Building
    Springfield, IL 62706
    (217) 782-8121
    (217) 524-1794 (FAX)
    repcurrie-AT-sbcglobal.net
    District Office:
    1303 E. 53rd Street
    Chicago, IL 60615
    (773) 667-0550
    (773) 667-3010 (FAX)
  • Representative William B. Black (R)
    104th District
    Deputy Republican Leader
    Springfield Office:
    314 Capitol Building
    Springfield, IL 62706
    (217) 782-4811
    (217) 782-1873 (FAX)
    blackwb-AT-cooketech.net
    District Office:
    7 E. Fairchild
    Danville, IL 61832
    (217) 431-1986
    (217) 431-2088 (FAX)
  • Representative Gary Hannig (D)
    98th District
    Deputy Majority Leader
    Springfield Office:
    300 Capitol Building
    Springfield, IL 62706
    (217) 782-8071
    (217) 524-1794 (FAX)
    hanniggl-AT-ilga.gov
    District Office:
    218 S. Macoupin Street
    P.O. Box 8
    Gillespie, IL 62033
    (217) 839-2859
    (217) 839-4833 (FAX)
  • Representative Brent Hassert (R)
    85th District
    Deputy Republican Leader
    Springfield Office:
    217-N Stratton Office Building
    Springfield, IL 62706
    (217) 782-4179
    (217) 782-5257 (FAX)
    Hassert85-AT-aol.com
    District Office:
    1408 Joliet Road
    Suite 102
    Romeoville, IL 60446
    (630) 739-7063
    (630) 739-4055 (FAX)
  • Representative Arthur L. Turner (D)
    9th District
    Deputy Majority Leader
    Springfield Office:
    300 Capitol Building
    Springfield, IL 62706
    (217) 782-8116
    (217) 782-0888 (FAX)
    turneral-AT-ilga.gov
    District Office:
    3849 W. Ogden Avenue
    Chicago, IL 60623
    (773) 277-4700
    (773) 277-4703 (FAX)

When writing, address the Representative as "The Honorable Mike Boland, etc.) Be polite, brief (one or 2 pages max) and indicate how the proposed bill will affect you personally and your bird activities or bird business. Economic impacts are important, but so are welfare issues for the animals and consequences to the general public too. 

 

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Last modified: January 06, 2007
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