Lemon Grove Voters Approve Measure E, Banning Retail Bird Sales from Commercial Mills
Lemon Grove, California, residents have overwhelmingly approved Measure E, a citizen-led ballot initiative that prohibits pet stores from selling birds unless they originate from animal shelters, animal control agencies, humane societies, or nonprofit rescue organizations. The measure, which passed with 65% of the vote, aims to protect birds from cruel commercial breeding facilities, often referred to as 'bird mills.' According to World Animal Protection, virtually all birds sold in pet stores come from these large-scale operations where thousands of birds are kept in barren cages, denied natural instincts, and often mis-marketed as low-maintenance pets. The ban will become enforceable six months after its adoption. This move follows similar bans enacted in other U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C.; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and West Hollywood, California.
