> 
  PG> The animal control folks seem disinclined to pursue this further,
  PG> although if I could find some proof explaining how this is bad for the
  PG> birds, they would probably reconsider.
  PG> 
  PG> Anyone want to help me out?
  DL> Sorry about over quoting, but it all is important. Although you mean
  DL> well by the whole thing, it is responses like this from well doers
  DL> (you) that get animal rights people going, that give them strength,
  DL> and that gets the pet industry closed down. They use any negative they
  DL> can and draw on it.
  DL> 
  DL> Although the store opens at noon, chances are there's someone in there
  DL> by 8. Have you tried to discuss it with the owner. Have you brought it
  DL> to the attention of your local bird club?
 
At 11 am the next day, the bird was STILL without food or water.  Frankly, 
when we first noticed it, we assumed that the bird's lack of food or water 
was an oversight on an employee's part, and that the owner would be *happy* 
to be notified that his bird was in a health threatening situation so that he 
could go and remedy it!  We first tried calling the store's alarm company, 
and they apparently did not contact the owner.  The thought that the bird had 
been deliberately left without food or water did not even occur to us.
As far as I can tell, we don't have a strong bird club in the area.  I'm not 
a member of one, and unlikely to become one, since I'm grossly overcommitted 
on club activities already.  I prefer to exchange bird tips electronically, 
where there's no chance I'll bring a disease home to my birds.
--- MacWoof 1.5.3
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