118 



Adina Rae Freedman, CAE 

 Executive Director 

 Central Office 



Associcftiom of AviciKi \/e\emar\aY\5 



Advancing and Promoting Avian t^edicine and Stewardship 



Statement of Susan L. Clubb, DVM, Dip ABVP - Avian Specialty 



before 



US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



COMNDTTEE ON RESOURCES 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE AND OCEANS 



SEPTEMBER 28, 1995 



Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee: 



It is a great pleasure to be able to testify before your subcommittee on behalf of 

 the Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) in regard to the Wild Bird Conservation 

 Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-440). 



I am a veterinarian working almost exclusively with exotic birds. Specifically I 

 currently hoid several employment positions which give me insight into the effects of the 

 Wild Bird Conservation Act I am staff veterinarian for Parrot Jungle and Gardens, a bird 

 park in Miami Florida. I teach a certification training course for pet retailers for the Pet 

 Industry Joint Advisory Council. I do research and product testing for Pretty Bird 

 International, a bird food company. I also consult for a Loro Parque, a bird park in Spain 

 which would like to export captive bred birds to the US. My husband and I own and 

 operate a commercial breeding farm for exotic birds and I have a mobile avicultural 

 veterinary practice. 



I represented AAV on the Cooperative Working Group on Bird Trade which 

 originally drafted the Exotic Bird Conservation Act. As you may know this original bill 

 became hotly contested while under consideration by the House Merchant Marine and 

 Fisheries Committee when a second bill was introduced by several animal rights and 

 animal protection groups. The result was the Wild Bird Conservation Act. 



The Association of Avian Veterinarians has a very strong conservation ethic as 

 evidenced by our stated purpose. AAV supports conservation projects and organizations 

 with annual grants equal to 1% of our net income. AAV supported the original draft, the 

 Exotic Bird Conservation Act. AAV also supported the passage of the Wild Bird 

 Conservation Act, however at the time of passage had some reservations about some 

 aspects of the act. Some sections of the Act were perceived as very restrictive and others 



Central Office • PO Box811720 • Boca Raton, FL USA 33481 • (407)393-8901 • Fax (407) 393-8902 



Publications Office • PO Box 618372 • Orlando, FL USA 32861 • (407)521-6101 • Fax (407) 521-6401 



Conference Office • 2121 S Oneida St • Suite 325 • Denver. CO USA 80224 • (303)756-8380 • Fax (303) 759-8861 



