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Bird lovers stunned as council pulls the
plug on parrot show
By Louise Male
BIRD fanciers have been left sick as a parrot
after a tropical bird show in Harrogate was
axed amid fears it would break the law.
Hundreds of the colourful, squawking birds
were set to descend on the Great Yorkshire
Showground in Harrogate for a national event,
eagerly awaited by owners of the tropical
birds.
But feathers were ruffled when protesters
said sales of birds would be taking place
at the event which is open to the public.
Organisers of the event, due to take place
on March 27 at the Yorkshire Event Centre,
Wetherby Road, claimed objections by animal
rights activists had led to the event's cancellation.
Chattering parrots and their owners from across
the country were planning to descend on the
town after successfully staging similar events
before.
An official of the Yorkshire Agricultural
Society said after discussions with Harrogate
Borough Council the decision had been made
not to go ahead with the event. But they refused
to elaborate further.
One of the organisers, Les Rance from Hertfordshire,
secretary of the Parrot Society UK, claimed
that the local authority had come under pressure
from protesters over birds being sold in contravention
of the Animal Act 1951.
Disappointed
Organisers pointed out that sales of parrots
were for members to exchange birds among themselves.
Mr Rance said the act had been introduced
to stop cruelty to animals, particularly in
London, from people making a living from sales.
He said a new animal bill was being prepared
by the government to bring animal welfare
legislation up to date. "Two thousand
people came to the event last year and thoroughly
enjoyed it. Members will be very disappointed,"
he said.
Nicky Garside, assistant director of health
for Harrogate Borough Council, said the parrot
show itself did not need a licence. What had
caused the difficulty was members of the parrot
society wanting to sell birds to fellow members
while the public were attending the show.
Because organisers wanted to sell parrots
at a public event, it was not possible to
grant a licence.
The official said it would not be correct
to say pressure had been put on the council,
but animal rights had shared information with
them that the law would be broken if sales
took place at a public event. Counsel's opinion
from a similar case in the Midlands had confirmed
this was the situation.
louise.male@ypn.co.uk
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Manzanita
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Natural
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Several
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