USDA says Pigeons and Doves are Exempt from Bird Flu Laws

The USDA recently implemented a rule that prohibits the importation of birds and poultry from countries where bird flu exists. Bird flu, also called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), has the potential to kill massive numbers of feathered friends when the birds pass the disease on to others. Because of the danger, the USDA has been vigilant in making sure that countries where bird flu is present do not bring the disease to the United States. Yet now they are considering allowing pigeons and doves from other countries without regulation. They say that these two types of birds have a low risk for HPAI, and they don’t see the need to regulate their entrance into the U.S. The USDA is seeking public opinion before they make their decision official.

Despite its name, bird flu doesn’t only affect birds. In fact, the disease can spread rapidly through dogs and cats as well. In areas where large amounts of birds with this disease are located, they may be able to spread to dogs through their feces or their saliva. The virus is also able to affect domestic birds. If your animal is showing signs of the flu such as vomiting, weakness, lack of appetite, lethargy, or glazed eyes, then you may want to take him or her to a vet. It is always better to be safe than sorry and if you don’t catch influenza fast it could be too late. Make sure that your pet drinks plenty of water to try and flush the virus out, and administer any prescription medications that are given to you by a vet. While there have not been a lot of cases of bird flu in the United States, dogs in Korea regularly fall ill to the disease. If it is transferred here through imported birds, it could become a serious threat to your animal’s health.