Due to Psittacosis

The birds all came from a nasty bird mill about 45 minutes from me that I have heard horrible things about. (Kaytee is the company responsible for this and another bird mill here in Florida).

Maybe this will get those scumbags closed down, but somehow I doubt it.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/14953062/detail.html

ATLANTA -- All birds at PetSmart stores in metro Atlanta and the rest of Georgia are under a quarantine after an outbreak of a bird disease that can be transferred to humans.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture ordered the quarantine at the PetSmarts, plus a Superpetz store in Martinez outside of Augusta due to psittacosis, Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced Monday.

Psittacosis is a bacterial disease that primarily affects parrots, parakeets and other members of the parrot family. It is treatable but can be fatal to the birds. Only in rare cases does it infect poultry.

The disease produces flu-like symptoms in humans, but it does not respond to treatments for the flu. The disease is especially dangerous to the young, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, such as persons with chronic disease, AIDS or HIV infection or those taking chemotherapy for cancer.

"We have had two confirmed cases of psittacosis at PetSmart stores in Hiram and Woodstock. There have also been confirmed cases at the dealer, Preferred Birds of Milton, Florida, that supplied birds to all the stores we are quarantining," said Irvin.

"PetSmart had already begun a quarantine, but the quarantine did not meet all state requirements. We are requiring PetSmart and Superpetz to move the birds away from the public and to begin using medicated feed to treat the birds. The quarantine will last 45 days or until released by our State Veterinarian."

The quarantine applies only to birds sold at the stores, not to other animals.

If you purchased a bird from PetSmart or the Martinez Superpetz and have concerns about its health, please contact your veterinarian, or if you have concerns about your health, contact your health care provider or local health department.

One can only hope they get shut down.Those poor sick birds.

I went to Superpetz last weekend to get some food and all the birds were gone! I asked where they were and they were all under quarantine. So I thanked God I rescued Scarlett in time!!!! She was on the verge of being bought by a bird "collector" who she hated and bit several times or she could still be in that mess or dead. I know NOW the conciquences (sp) of buying from breeders and stores but I truely feel like I rescued Scarlett from a horrible life of being a perch potato trophy or being rehomed at some point. I had no intetion of becoming a bird owner but SHE asked me to be. I know, sounds crazy but she would go nuts every time I came in. She has changed my life for the better and I am also an advocate to go to bird rescues. I am going to my local one soon as I have some donations. I pray Petsmart will STOP selling cockatoos or any other bird to people that they get from these so called breeders. I have seen another cockatoo that is the saddest creature in another store about 20 miles away. He is chained in his cage and they don't like to take him out cuz he's to hard to get back in!!!! Also Superpetz! Can't imagine WHY he doesn't want to go back in!!!! I am home on New Years Eve to be with my little girl and my husband is at work( I usually go with him) but that is just one more sacrifice I am willing to do to make her happy.

I just read the article on birdchannel.com It is on the front page of the website to read.

I had posted the very same copy of the WSB article today in the forum above this one; I deleted mine once I saw that you had posted the same.

Are you in Atlanta area also (I am in Lilburn) or are you in FL? Just saw this on TV today. What do you know about the bird mill in question? I hope it gets shut down or at least they are forced to clean up their act......

The bird mill, Preferred Birds, is owned and operated by Kaytee. That is why most people on here and other anti sales sites boycott their products at all times. It is a huge operation and heartbreaking to even read about. This could be a huge problem for them but, for some reason, I doubt it will be. Here is an article Sally Blanchard wrote about them"

http://www.companionparrot.com/Kaytee%20Preferred%20Birds.htm

Its obviously already all over the country. I also just got an email from a friend in Washington State thats says pet stores there have been affected as well.

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=196265&p=factset11


http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/luciedove/vpost?id=2380711

Its all over the place. I didnt hear the one in Georgia, but about the case in Idiana. And yes, ghere in WA state, all petsmarts are suppose to have their birds in strict quaratine, away from the public (so they say). I was just informed of this (for WA state) yesterday and informed about whats going on a week and half ago. CRAZY how it spreads.

And I NEVER knew that about Kaytee!!! I have boughten some Kaytee products, and I will now remember NEVER to by Kaytee products again! Thanks!

Mercedez and Feathered Kids**

Thanks for that article Charlie. I had bought some Kaytee stuff in the past, but did not buy it again because I did not think it was quality or the place it came from. This just reaffirms what I suspected. They have also had reptiles in the past that were worse off than the birds. We had persons who got part time jobs at Petco and some other retailers just so they could give proper care to the reptiles and birds there.

I just checked out their products on their website and thanks goodness I have never purchased anything.

How could a company that promos vet medicine/schools, rehab, etc. also support mass chick production? There are soooo many two-faced people in the world, it is just another supporting fact of humans being the worst of all the animal species.

I just checked out their products on their website and thanks goodness I have never purchased anything.

How could a company that promos vet medicine/schools, rehab, etc. also support mass chick production? There are soooo many two-faced people in the world, it is just another supporting fact of humans being the worst of all the animal species. I also couldn't find anything on their site warning the public of this quarantine. You would think that at the very least that they would want avoid any lawsuits, never mind being responsible to the public!!!!!!

I wonder if this is also in the Petsmarts in Canada or the other "big box" pet store, Petcetra. I don't shop at either of these stores. Now I know why!!!!!



Edit:

I have NO IDEA how this happened, but I went in to edit my other post and somehow I ended up with two posts......the first the original and the second (this one) a repeat of the first with my additional comment. Sorry MyToos, but I don't know what happened.

Just got off the phone with Petsmart up here in MA. Called to ask if their birds are being quarantined. They are and luckily have not tested positive at this point. The girl I spoke with said that all petsmarts around the country have quarantined their birds and are currently testing all. Nancy

From the most recent I have read - PetSmart's in 46 states have received birds from the Preferred Birds (Kaytee program) vendor located in Milton, FL in the time period in question.

I saw this quote from Petland in one of the many online papers reporting the story. I guess Petland will continue to defend that bottom feeder bird mill despite the problem.

After all, a few bird deaths is nothing compared to the profits they make buying from a huge wholesale "vendor" like this one.

Makes me want to puke.

I found out exactly where this bird mill is located but of course am not going anywhere near it right now. Maybe after this outbreak is contained I will take a drive there and try to get some photo's of the place.

Out of curiosity, I went into one of the stores near me in Atlanta and all the birds were removed from display with a note that they were getting "health screens". That note was posted close to another that said that the "restrooms were out of order because the sewer had backed up"; I guess that says it all.

Yes and for those who don't understand why the restrooms are "out of order", it is because psittacosis is a zoonotic disease, that is, it can move back and forth between humans and parrots. In fact it can be a very serious disease in humans especially if the immune system is compromised in any way. I think we have members that have been infected. I know Diane with 2nd Chance Aviary Parrot Sanctuary in Canada had to treat her husband as well as her whole flock at one time, a terrible experience for her.

HMMM I wonder if any customers or employees got sick from this and didn't realize what was wrong with them. This kinda thing could spread quicky I would think.

For those who might not know, forgive me if you do, in humans it is call chlamydia.

Yes, but be aware that Psittacosis (C. psittaci) is another bacterial species. C. trachomatis causes the venereal disease. They are very different and there are many other species that cause problems from pneumonia to heart disease. This bacterial family is constantly being studied, renamed and updated. You can do a web search for "chlamydia" and be overwhelmed.

You will not get a venereal disease in PetSmart.

Here is a link to Chlamydia trachomatis from the CDC website:
http://www.cdc.gov/std/chlamydia/default.htm

Also a link to Chlamydia psittaci from the CDC website:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/psittacosis_t.htm