There are 96 birds on the filthy concrete floors of the wire cages at Art
Knapp's on King George Highway in South Surrey.
Pigeons, White Japanese Bantam chickens, Blue Indian peacocks (with a price
tag of $149.99) and roosters galore.
There are black-shouldered peacocks ($159), chicks, jungle fowl, white and
green Java peacocks. Guinea hens, lady Amherst pheasants, Rhode Island red
hens, golden and ring-neck pheasants, fancy ornamental turkeys, black and
silver swinhoes, Indian runner chicks, geese and Muscovy ducks, swinhoe blue
pheasants, doves and the special of the day was two Peking ducks for the
price of $10. The added note on their cage read: "excellent pet or for the
table".
Yes, that means exactly what you are thinking: you can use them as a pet and
when the novelty wears off, you can kill them and eat them.
Which really means that we are no better than animals; we are way worse.

Art Knapp's has been around for a long time. Their nurseries/plantlands are
all over B.C.
But why would a reputable organization like that make a stupid decision to
sell live exotic birds??

A nursery is not a zoo and the dour wire cages with the concrete floors,
caked with bird-poop and basic wooden boxes where the birds are supposed to
sleep are a stain on the flourishing, sweet-smelling environment of a
nursery.

Is this the kind of life these beautiful birds deserve?
Not in my opinion. It's the saddest thing to look at and it makes my
decision to buy some flowers and plants null and void.

As they have food and shelter, I know from past experiences that there's no reason to
phone the S.P.C.A. They will not do anything about Art Knapp's selling
exotic birds.

But it is sad to be confronted once again with the little respect Canadians
have for their animals. For their rights and for their freedom.

My wish?That there was a society for the prevention of cruelty to and taking away
the rights of animals, including birds, that would step in and ensure that
animals could live their lives in their natural surroundings without the
cruel and despicable intervention of people.
Alas......

Lonneke Mulder,
Surrey, BC