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Bill to ban retail sale of parrots draws split testimony from sanctuary operators and specialty pet store owners
Summary
House Bill 5214 would ban the sale of parrots in Rhode Island, with a proposed small‑business carve‑out; rescue groups urged the ban to reduce surrenders, while Jungle Junction owners and other small retailers opposed a statewide prohibition and urged education and targeted measures instead.
Representative Carter introduced House Bill 5214, a proposal to prohibit the retail sale of parrots (psittacine birds) in Rhode Island, with a possible carve‑out for certain small businesses.
Amanda Coleman, sanctuary director at Foster Parrots and New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary, told the committee the sanctuary houses nearly 400 permanent residents and is receiving unprecedented surrender requests: "This year alone, as of January 1, we've already received 36 requests for surrender... In 2024 our total…
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