POSTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE BIRD LOVERS SOCIAL CLUB
Subject: An Update Re: Disease / Prevention

Hi everyone,
A couple of months ago, I brought-up the topic of avian communicable disease being present in our area
and some of us discussed basic prevention practices.
At that time, we knew of 8 known cases of PBFD.
Important: Please do not confuse this with the current controversy over another situation involving differing opinions re: labs. I'm speaking of 8 known cases, three in which I became personally involved & one in which I obtained a blood-feather sample for the purpose of facilitating a local research effort

At the time I mentioned that I'm part of a working group that formed to become proactive in minimizing the spread of disease, and many of you know that we've been working to create a viable community process from which we all will benefit.
At our recent Spring Party, I introduced a brochure that outlined the Avian Community Health Awareness Project & I believe I've mentioned that one of our goals was to engage local shops to join the effort to minimize disease.
I promised to keep everyone up-to-date on our efforts & to let you all know who is participating in our neighborhood Health Awareness Project.
Well?
This is that update!

First of all~
We have a website: www.achap.hostmatrix.org
Please check it out to get an idea of just 'who' we are and 'what' we do.
(As I recently mentioned to a friend, think of ACHAP as a 'Neighborhood Watch' for avian disease, or as
'Mothers Against Avian Disease'.)

Also~
We've been granted approval as a Washington State Not-For-Profit organization, with a Federal 501c 3 pending.

And finally~
(What, according to some notes & calls, so many of you have been waiting for)

The following is our initial list of Avian Community Health Awareness Partners: Businesses that have committed to working to promote health & safety in their shops for the benefit of their friends & neighbors & customers.
I hope you're not terribly disappointed in the brevity of the following list; Spreading the word & training volunteers takes time, and we've only just begun!

After posting the following list of vendors & shops here, it will become an integral feature at our website where you can refer to it as you wish.
I'll post future lists the same way, if you like.
I'm glad you're all here to share this exciting ride with ACHAP!
Naomi
***************** Current ACHAP Partners *********************

Wholesale Distributors ~ Manufacturers ~ On-Line Stores
ACHAP Partner wholesale distributors & manufacturers are dedicated to maintaining biosecurity, helping to assure the products purchased by local bird stores are free from disease.
Testing for avian disease is the first step of many these businesses follow. All listed Partners have recently successfully tested their environment for PBFD. Their confirmed-negative results are kept on file.
In addition to routine environmental testing, our wholesale/manufacturing ACHAP Partners use clean technique in preparing bird food items, clean-wrap handmade products & toys, and do not have birds present in their working space.
ACHAP distributors generally have a no-return policy for their items. This minimizes the possibility of disease from an outside source (an item potentially contaminated by the purchaser's household)

Ask your local retailer if their products are purchased by ACHAP Partners!

Current ACHAP Wholesale/Manufacturing/On-Line Store Partners

Aussie Bird Toys, Etc.
Address Withheld by Request
(Wholesaler only)
Offers toys to many of our local bird stores.
Their items include many original Aussie creations, toys from Bell Plastics, WeeBee Toys, Starbird, Shredders,
and many more. Offering perches, crocks, destroyables, window perches, piñatas, toy parts, and other items too numerous to include.

Pollywood Toys
www.pollywoodtoys.com
(360) 966-7540
(Manufacturer/Wholesaler/On-Line Retail Sales)
Offers one-of-a-kind destroyable hanging wood toys with unique features for the health & safety of our birds:
Stainless steel rod / Outer layer of wood removed to reveal fresh wood unexposed to wood distributor's possible contaminants / Raw sisal rope for 'pure' chewing satisfaction

wings@play.com
e-mail to above address
(Wholesaler/On-Line Retail Sales)
Teepee huts for hiding, playing & sleeping

Cockatoo Hideaway
CockatooHideaway@GMail.com
(Private Manufacturer of bird-food items)
Organic instant-prep 'Lullabye Warmie' mix, Organic 'China's Crunchies' soak & sprout-mix, Organic 'Abbie's Appetizers' quick-cooking bean & grain mix.
Items are sold under the name of avian-oriented charities with proceeds of sales benefiting their projects.

Retail Shops
ACHAP Retail Sales Partners understand that a healthy environment benefits us all.
They recognize routine environmental testing for avian disease as a sound practice in gauging the effectiveness of their efforts, and all have recently successfully tested for PBFD.
Their negative results are kept on file with them.
Individual ACHAP Partner Stores have their own policies, created with customer & avian companion safety in mind:
They may discourage customers bringing avian companions when shopping and, if offering grooming services, will generally do so in an area separate from their birds or bird-oriented products.
If they offer boarding services, expect to prepare by obtaining a certificate of health prior to bringing your bird for an extended stay.
ACHAP Retail Partners have various return policies, meant to protect our community as well as their birds from possible outside influences of disease.
They share successful health maintenance strategies with ACHAP and other interested avian shops, recognizing mutual communication as an economical, yet highly effective tool.

Get to know our local ACHAP Partner Shops!

Current ACHAP Retail Sales Partners

Denny's Pet World
12534 120th Ave. N.E.
Kirkland, Washington 98034
(425) 821-3800
Play stands & trees, cages, many brands of pellets & treats.
Hand feeding supplies and many unique bird-oriented items you might not find elsewhere.
Huge selection of toys for beaks of all sizes!
Baby birds are raised away from general customer traffic in an enclosed area with a 'Behind Glass' policy and may be visited by appointment only.

Fish Gallery & Pets
37 S. Grady Way
Renton, Washington 98055
(425) 226-3215

Large wall of toys for birds from parrotlets to macaws!
Many brands of bird foods, as well as bulk mixes, pellets and treats.
Handf eeding supplies and avian supplements.
Cages and play equipment.
Birds too!
Has "Behind Glass" policy for birds.

Fish Gallery & Pets
25844 104th Ave. SE
Kent, Washington 98030
(253) 852-9240

Toys, toys and more toys!
Large selection of bird foods, pellets and treats; Many bulk items.
Hand feeding supplies and avian supplements
Cages and play equipment.
Birds cared for using 'Behind Glass' policy.
Grooming services limited to pedicures and trimming of wingfeathers
(No beaks as they believe this task is best left for your personal avian vet.)
Individual grooming towels, equipment sterilized after use.
Grooming services conducted away from shop birds and avian-related items

A Place for Pets
www.aplaceforpets.org
431 SW 152 St.
Burien, Wa 98166
(206) 244-3502
Located in the charming Burien Historical Downtown Shopping District
Bird foods and toys, cages and equipment.
Their baby birds are taken to fly for fledging experience and building of health bodies & immune systems!
Stop in and say hello to the owners, Sean and Kevin;
They're new in the neighborhood & welcome your visit!
Let them know what products you'd like to see in their new store!

Alta's Pet Gallery
1250 State Avenue
Marysville, Washington 98270
(360) 653-2921
Bird food, treats; Bulk foods for extra savings.
Small selection of cages and play equipment.
Small in-house selection of toys; Ask to specially-order the items you're looking for.
Small species birds are kept in an enclosed environment.
Is currently reviewing policies & seeking guidance re: new birds arriving for consignment sales.

Don't see your favorite avian shop listed?
Ask them to contact ACHAP @ info@achap.hostmatrix.org
A volunteer will help!


Aviaries ~
ACHAP Aviary Partners understand the devastation that one contaminated item/person/bird can cause.
Routine environmental testing offers breeders, rescues and sanctuaries a snapshot of current conditions, allowing for adjustments in their overall biosecurity protocols when indicated. All Aviary Partners have recently successfully tested for avian disease & their negative results are on-file with them.
They understand the fragility of an immature bird's immune system and are educated in the use of clean technique when offering care to the birds in their facilities.
Shops or individuals that purchase their birds from ACHAP breeders understand special arrangements must be made if wishing to return a bird to prepare for temporary quarantine while the bird is being medically evaluated and cleared.
ACHAP Aviary Partners share their successful health maintenance strategies with ACHAP and other interested aviaries.
They're also often available to speak at clubs & organizations to share their experiences in maintaining healthy flocks. Ask them!

Current ACHAP Aviary Partners

Mollywood Avian Sanctuary
(Address Withheld by Request)
Bellingham, Washington
www.mollywood.org
Although a sanctuary for numerous species of unwanted & abandoned parrots, Mollywood is, as their name suggests, a place specializing in caring for Moluccan Cockatoos.
This 501c 3 all-volunteer organization is also involved in community outreach, from speaking at schools to involving at-risk young adults in providing bird care & aviary-building to accepting individuals for court-ordered Community Service rehabilitation.
They require medical records prior to accepting a bird's arrival and work closely with local avian vets to ensure their flock of over 200 birds remain healthy.
Routine environmental testing, healthy individualized diets, freeflighted aviaries and minimizing stress are key to their success.
As one vet mentioned: "It's amazing how you manage to remain disease-free!"
Mollywood is available for speaking to your group or organization about health management.

Bird Lover's Connection
(Address Withheld by Request)
(Wholesaler to local bird shops only; Not open to the retail public.)
Puget Sound Region
Hand raises baby birds as part of a breeder co-op.
Includes handfeeding, socializing, overseeing medical care to assure healthy immune systems.
Policies include screening & vaccinating for polyoma, strict quarantine for new arrivals, no visiting birds.
Offers the largest variety of species in the Northwest, all raised in a loving home environment!