It never occurred to me to have my cats declawed, but many cat owners do have it done mainly so that the cat cannot scratch the furniture etc. I wonder how much thought they give the procedure and how much research they do. So I went on-line to look into it, and here's what I found:

€ Most sites agree with Dr. Neil Wolff, D.V.M., who says that declawing is an inhumane procedure, a mutilation that is never in the cat's best interest. There are other sites that promote the many alternatives to declawing.

And most unexpected, it is against the law in many countries including Germany, England and Switzerland.

€ Declawing is described as multiple amputations comparable to the removal of human fingertips at the first knuckle. Sensory and motor nerves are cut, damaged and destroyed, and recovery from the surgery is slow and painful. It can hamper the sensations and enjoyment involved in walking, running, springing, climbing and stretching according to Wolff.

€ Without a cat's number one defense system, cats may resort to nipping or biting and for their safety must be kept indoors at all times.

€ There are a number of alternatives for destructive scratching problems. Scratching posts are sold in pet stores and provide a useful alternative. Trimming a cat's nails is another alternative, and cat nail caps that are inexpensive and easy to apply are yet another solution. For details on these alternatives, just Google “declawing cats.”

Each year thousands of parrots are acquired on impulse and wind up caged in solitary with nothing to do.

This is torture for such smart, social creatures says the conservationist, Jane Goodall. “For me, the sight of a parrot living alone, living in a cage, deprived of flight, miserably bored, breaks my heart.”

Such neglected parrots may display negative behaviors such as self mutilation or screaming.

Then the owner may give up the bird. Petfinder.com connects interested adopters with rescue groups that rehabilitate abandoned parrots and other birds.

An adopter should know that many parrots live as long as 50 years and that, as well as other requirements, means quite a commitment.

Studies at Brandeis University have measured the cognitive abilities of one African Grey parrot named Alex who has the IQ of a 4- to 6-year-old child and a large vocabulary.

Parrot adopters are informed that their bird needs to be handled often, talked to and given toys to play with. In addition to a pelleted diet, they need nuts in the shell, and lots of fruits and vegetables.

To maintain the bird's health, one must not smoke around the bird, burn candles or incense or use nonstick cookware. It is also important to find a vet that is experienced in avian medicine.

Judy Vorreuter is the founder and director of Animal Advocates of the Finger Lakes. Contact her at judy@cayugaanimaladvocates.org