Earlier this month, Todd Marcus Birds Exotic Inc. in New Jersey USA (http://www.thebirdstore.com/) sold an exotic parrot to Michael Vick, an NFL Eagles football player who was charged with animal cruelty in connection with a dog fighting ring. After the arrest, many of the dogs had to be euthanized because of the severity of their injuries.

FULLY AWARE of Michael Vick’s criminal history, Todd Marcus and Todd Marcus Birds Exotic Inc. of Delran, New Jersey, not only sold Vick the bird, but bragged about the sale on his Facebook page. Marcus also posted a photo of Vick holding a baby macaw, which has since been removed.

This marketing ploy by Marcus has seriously backfired. The avian and canine communities are outraged, infuriated, incensed, and livid beyond belief. Marcus, on the other hand, continues to stand behind his sale, insisting that Vick has the means to care for the bird. Quite to the contrary, money does not buy education or love.

About Vick:

Vick ran an interstate dog fighting ring. He placed family pet dogs in the ring with his trained pit bulls "causing major injuries" to the pets, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report. "Vick thought it was funny to watch the pit bull dogs injure or kill the other dogs." He killed several of his dogs by hanging them if they did not perform well in a "rolling session," an indication of the readiness of a dog to fight.

According to the USDA report, he hung them "by placing a nylon cord over a 2 X 4 that was nailed to two trees located next to the big shed. He also drowned several dogs by putting their heads in a five-gallon bucket of water."

Vick and three other men were indicted on federal offense and state felony charges relating to a six-year long continuing criminal enterprise of an interstate dog fighting ring. Vick did plead guilty and entered into a plea bargain. While he did serve time, justice was never served for the brutally slaughtered dogs. According to the judgment, Vick is never allowed to own a dog; however, the conviction did not include other animals and birds.

About Marcus:

Marcus, who was fined by the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife for smuggling illegal birds into New Jersey several years ago, insists that he cares about the birds he sells, despite having deceived his customers about the legality of the illegal birds he sold to them for profit and despite having falsified New Jersey Fish & Wildlife permits. The lives of these illegal birds were placed in jeopardy at the hands of Todd Marcus. Illegal birds in New Jersey are confiscated by the state and euthanized, no questions asked.

Once aware of the outrage of the avian community, Marcus altered his story and now says the bird was sold to Vick’s fiancé and children. He claims Vick would not be around the bird very often because of his football schedule. Remember that football season only runs from September through January.

Bird and dog lovers have banded together to boycott Todd Marcus and Todd Marcus Birds Exotic Inc. because of his total disregard for the life of this innocent parrot.

We the undersigned strongly believe that this was an untenable, inexcusable, reprehensible, and unforgivable transaction between Todd Marcus and Todd Marcus Birds Exotic, Inc. and Michael Vick. We grieve for the future of this innocent parrot and, going forward, we MUST ban the sale of ANY animal to ANY animal abuser.

Thank you.