California initiative seeks to ban retail sale of commercially bred birds

Hannah Elsmore, The San Diego Union-Tribune on Feb 12, 2026

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SAN DIEGO — A proposed ballot initiative would ask Lemon Grove, California, residents if the retail sale of commercially bred birds should be banned.

Led by a local group of animal rights activists, the initiative would extend current state law — which applies to dogs, cats and rabbits — to forbid bird sales in Lemon Grove unless they were obtained from an animal shelter or rescue.

“It’s a common-sense extension of the current law,” said Amit Dhuleshia, a San Diego-based animal rights advocate and proponent of the initiative. “Birds and other small animals got left behind in the original ordinance.”

The proposal would specifically place limitations on the sale of “companion” birds, such as parrots, parakeets, cockatiels and doves. It would not include poultry or birds kept for backyard flock purposes, such as chickens, ducks, geese or turkeys.

Birds that are bred for commercial sale are often kept in “bird mills,” Dhuleshia said. He described the mills as similar to puppy mills; cages are stacked and birds are kept in cramped wire cages.

After companion birds are bred, they are sold in pet stores where individuals often purchase them without realizing “how complex the animals are,” Dhuleshia said.

“Right now there is a huge problem of people returning parrots and other birds,” he said. “The shelters are over capacity … some rescues have to turn birds down.”

The initiative specifically targets pet store sales, so private breeders would be exempt. The measure is not aimed at specific stores in Lemon Grove that currently sell companion birds, he said.

“We want them to extend the model they currently have and partner with rescues to encourage a more humane way of taking care of these animals,” Dhuleshia noted.

Proponents started collecting signatures in January to qualify the initiative for the 2026 municipal ballot.

The group has until July 8 to submit 1,700 signatures from registered voters in Lemon Grove. He said the proposal has attracted a “tremendous amount of support.” Proponents aim to submit the petition in April to ensure it makes the November 2026 ballot.

As of now, West Hollywood is the only city in California that has banned the retail sale of birds. If the proposal is passed in Lemon Grove, he said proponents will try to do so in other cities in the county.

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