I just want to repeat and elaborate on something I said yesterday to the larger Discuss List. It's important we share and comment intelligently on Patty's story at SFgate tomorrow, not just to show there is interest and concern for the problem and support for Mickaboo's work (which is what I said yesterday), but in case readers draw the wrong lessons from Muriel's sad tale. 

Unlike Elizabeth's or my earlier Pet Tales, both of which had happy or at least hopeful endings, this one is profoundly tragic, a real heartbreaker with no simple villain or very bright prospects for a happy future. Pet Tales has had many many sad stories, but in most of them there was at least some final resolution, closure, or relief — if by death if nothing else. So readers' postings this time may be quite frustrated and emotional: some may condemn us for not euthanizing Muriel, whether because we are 'prolonging her suffering' or because we are 'wasting scarce resources' better used on other, more important priorities, or for unknown reasons; on the other side, some may lash out at the former owner (who was trying to do the right thing) and/or attack the idea of companion birds and everyone who has them. Neither extreme position helps our cause or our birds. Nor does a flame war.

Hopefully my worries are baseless, but I think we should be prepared to respond if there are false or inflammatory statements. Muriel's story raises important issues and there are serious discussions to be had, but we should try to make sure they stay respectul, focused, and accurate. We also should be clear about the positive lessons we want people to take away from this story.

Jonathan