Removing the pinion joint of a bird stops the growth of the
primary feathers, preventing the acceleration required for flight and is analogous to amputating a human hand at the wrist. Pinioning may be done by a veterinarian or by a trained breeder, depending on the country in which the keeper is operating. For example, it is illegal for anyone other than a veterinarian to carry out the procedure in the United Kingdom. It is similar to other forms of modification and surgical procedures of domestically raised animals, such as
docking the tail of a
dog and
declawing on a
cat. Apart from the prevention of flight, there is commonly thought to be little long term negative effect from pinioning if performed correctly and at a young age. However, the
animal welfare impact of pinioning is subject to increasing debate. For example, it is now known that the operation, which is often performed without pain relief, is just as painful in young birds as in mature birds, if not more so. Evidence also suggests that pinioning may cause a
phantom limb syndrome similar to what is observed in human
amputees. For these reasons, this practice has been prohibited in certain regions and is subject to increasing scrutiny. ==Alternatives to pinioning==