MILL VALLEY, Calif. – In Defense of Animals, a national animal protection organization, released comments today urging all who are considering making an avian friend part of their family to adopt rather than purchase a bird during January 2003, the third annual Adopt-A-Rescued-Bird Month.

As with dogs and cats, each year thousands of abused, neglected, and abandoned birds find themselves in dire need of a warm, caring home. Each time a bird is purchased in a shop, a chance is lost to save a bird in real need of rescue from a life of suffering or even death. Making the choice to adopt rather than buy an avian friend turns such moments of tragedy into moments of love and triumph.

Making the choice to become an adopted bird’s “guardian” rather than “owner” reminds us of the profound responsibility of taking on a new animal family member, and emphasizes that one should always adopt rather than purchase an animal companion.

As IDA President Dr. Elliot M. Katz explains, “IDA’s Guardian Campaign is redefining the current concept of animals as objects, commodities and/or things. We no longer refer to ourselves or others as “owners” of animals we share our lives with but rather as “guardians” of our animal friends. Guardians do not buy or sell animals; instead they rescue and adopt. Every time an animal is bought instead of rescued or adopted, a potential home for a homeless animal waiting in a shelter is lost, resulting in millions of needless deaths of shelter animals each year. This January, we urge you to become a Bird Guardian by adopting an avian friend in need in honor of Adopt-A-Rescued-Bird Month.”

For more information about birds in need of adoption in your area, visit the web site http://www.birdadoption.org, or write the Avian Welfare Coalition, P.O. Box 40212, St. Paul, MN 55014, http://www.avianwelfare.org

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It is the policy of In Defense of Animals to no longer use language that accepts the current concept of animals as property, commodities and/or things. Rather than referring to ourselves or others as "owners" of animals we share our lives with, we now refer to ourselves and others as "guardians" of our animal friends and to animals as "he" or "she" rather than "it." Guardians do not buy or sell animals; instead they rescue and adopt. We urge you to do the same.