OP-ED: Proposed Massachusetts bird ban would be fowl play

A proposed bill in Massachusetts (HB 5137) would prohibit Bay State consumers from purchasing pet birds at licensed local businesses. Mark Hagen, M.Ag., Director of Research at Rolf C. Hagen Inc. and the Hagen Avicultural Research Institute, published an op-ed in the Lowell Sun this week, warning lawmakers of the bill’s unintended consequences. From endangering animal welfare to pushing prospective owners to underground, shady sources, Hagen argues the legislation would do more harm than good.

“If the state legislature’s goal is to safeguard birds, the focus should be cracking down on illegal trade and unlicensed breeders rather than dismantling systems that prioritize animal health and welfare,” Hagen writes. “Unfortunately, House Bill 5137 threatens to clip the wings of advancement.”

Read the full op-ed in the Lowell Sun here.