Information has been received that would indicate that the only thing that can
be appealed about quarantine Notices is an issue of whether or not you are
within one kilometer of a suspected or documented case of END. It appears
that if you are within one kilometer of a recorded case, then you will be
placed under quarantine and the quarantine will not be lifted until it has
been determined that the requirements are met to release the entire
neighborhood from quarantine. It appears that the Task Force will randomly
pick a couple of other properties within the quarantine area and test for
END. If the test should come back positive on any of those birds, the
quarantined area is expanded (based on the one kilometer radius) and birds
in the immediate area are depopulated. Based on this information, you can
still appeal the quarantine, but it is not likely that you will prevail as
the policy is to quarantine all properties that have birds within the
specified radius.
Information has also been received that since the CDFA policies have been
changed, there may be no further reversals on kill Notice appeals, with the
exception being a Risk Assessment. The Risk Assessment will be performed by
the Task Force and they will make the sole determination of if you fit the
requirements to be considered for the "caged bird policy" as provided in the
updated CDFA policies. In theory, you will be notified in advance of the fact
that your property is scheduled to be depopulated. You will need to request
a Risk Assessment before the Task force arrives to kill the bird(s). This
is where establishing biosecurity even before you get a quarantine Notice
could play a big factor in showing that your bird(s) are at minimal risk.
If your premise fits the requirements, you will be required to sign the
Compliance Agreement when it is afforded to you. If you do not meet the
criteria your birds may be killed.
If you are following good biosecurity, however,
we do suggest that you attempt to be considered for a Risk Assessment if
your bird(s) are healthy and you have them secure on your property by
the use of a fence to keep them in and other bird(s) out.
If you are given the option of signing the Compliance Agreement, you do need
to read it agreement carefully and understand that you are signing all
rights to the bird(s) over to the California State Veterinarian. They can
either home quarantine your bird(s) or remove them to a quarantine station,
at their sole discretion. If they remove the birds, the State Veterinarian
does not have to communicate anything further with you on the status of the
bird. It is being assumed that you will likely end up waiting in limbo with
no information on what is happening unless the vet sees fit to communicate
something to you.
As poor as the Risk Assessement option sounds, it appears to be the only
option available to not have your birds killed without testing. We have seen
it stated that the CDFA will pay for the testing, although this seems to be
in direct conflict with the posted policies that indicate that the owner must
pay for the testing. Please note that it also appears that there is no legal
recourse available to you once you have signed the Compliance Agreement.
FIRST - Read one of these thoroughly to see if you qualify for a Risk Assessment:
Pages on our Site:
CDFA Policy - PDF Format
CDFA Policy on Pet and Exotic Birds Housed in Cages within Enclosed Structures
CDFA Policy - Text Format
CDFA Policy on Pet and Exotic Birds Housed in Cages within Enclosed Structures
On the CDFA Site:
CDFA Policy - PDF Format
CDFA Policy on Pet and Exotic Birds Housed in Cages within Enclosed Structures
NEXT - Call Applicable Number for Your County:
Call Number for Your County and tell the person who answers that you are calling for a Risk Assessment. Be sure
to get the name of the person you are talking to and ask who their supervisor is. This is for
insurance that your message is being taken down and passed on. Be sure to specify that
you need IMMEDIATE contact. If no one returns your call in 6 hours, CALL BACK again. Do not wait
any longer than that! Be prepared with the information you need to discuss in regard to "FIRST"
as shown above.
Call - Applicable numbers to call
Incident Command Centers:
South Coast Call 1-800-491-1899
(Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties)
Inland Desert Call 1-800-491-1899
(Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties)
Central California (All Counties Not Listed Above) Call 209-558-5867
Permits and Compliance Agreements Call 1-866-214-7079
For General Info Only or to Report Sick Birds Call 1-800-481-1899
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