Stop Birds From Being Kept in Pet Stores Indefinitely
A National Petition for a Maximum Retail Sale Period and Mandatory Rehoming Plans for Birds

Birds are intelligent, social animals with complex physical and emotional needs. They can live for many years, form strong bonds, and require specialized care. Yet birds sold in pet stores may remain in retail enclosures for extended periods, sometimes for months or even longer, while waiting for someone to purchase them.

We believe no bird should be left in a retail sales system indefinitely simply because it has not found a buyer.

We are calling on the United States Congress to establish federal legislation that protects birds from prolonged retail confinement and ensures every bird has a responsible, humane placement plan, regardless of where in the country it is sold.

We call for the following nationwide legal requirements:
1. A maximum retail sale period. Establish a proposed maximum of 60 consecutive days for a bird to be offered for sale at a pet store, with safeguards against transferring birds between stores or changing ownership on paper to reset the clock.

2. Mandatory rehoming plans. Before a bird is offered for sale, the store must have a documented plan for its continued care and placement if it remains unsold at the end of the permitted period.

3. Guaranteed placement arrangements. Stores must establish agreements with qualified bird rescues, reputable sanctuaries, or other approved placement providers. Sellers must remain responsible for arranging and covering the costs of placement.

4. No abandonment or unsafe transfers. Unsold birds must never be abandoned, released into the wild, or transferred to unqualified recipients simply to meet a deadline. Their welfare must remain the priority throughout the placement process.

5. Individual records and accountability. Stores must maintain records of each bird's arrival date, health checks, transfers, and final placement. These records must be available to the appropriate regulatory authorities for inspection and enforcement.

6. Humane care while awaiting placement. Every bird must receive appropriate housing, nutrition, enrichment, veterinary attention, and opportunities to express natural behaviors throughout its time in retail custody.

7. Enforcement and penalties. Establish clear inspection procedures, meaningful penalties for violations, and safeguards against practices intended to evade the law.

8. Responsible implementation. Require a reasonable transition period and coordination with qualified rescues, sanctuaries, and animal welfare organizations. Implementation must account for available placement capacity and ensure that birds are never left without appropriate care because a deadline has been reached.

Why this change matters
Our goal is not to punish individual store employees or leave birds without care. Our goal is to reform a system that allows birds to remain in retail sales environments without a defined endpoint or a guaranteed plan for their future.

Birds are not merchandise that should be kept indefinitely on display until someone decides to purchase them. They are living creatures with social, behavioral, and physical needs that must be respected.

A bird's future should not depend indefinitely on whether a customer chooses to buy it. Every bird deserves appropriate care and a defined pathway to a safe, permanent, and suitable home.

Our call to action
We urge the United States Congress to introduce, consider, and enact federal legislation establishing maximum retail sale periods and mandatory rehoming plans for birds sold in pet stores nationwide.

We also call on state and local governments, pet retailers, animal welfare organizations, bird rescues, and concerned citizens to support stronger protections and work toward a future in which no bird is left in retail confinement indefinitely.

Please sign and share this petition to help put the welfare of birds before indefinite retail sale. Every bird deserves more than a cage and an uncertain future.