It seems these days that Petco is the big bad wolf of the ferret
community.  Marshall Farms is perhaps the cowardly lion.  But Peta
is hardly the Wizard of Oz or the valiant woodcutter.
 
I've read the articles, I've read the posts, I've even read the flames,
though I tended to skip right past a whole lot of completely unimportant
stuff that was purely related to two people's dislike for each other, and
I was left trying very hard to sift out what is fact from what is spite.
It seems to me that in that situation, no one is being helped by either
party, if the newbie, who has as yet been unexposed to the arguments for
all sides has to figure out for themselves what is true amongst all that.
I coudn't even do it, and I've heard it all before.
 
But that is beside the point.
 
The point is this:
 
Wanting Petco to stop selling animals is an honorable effort, but an
opinion which is not even shared by the entire FML, let alone the entire
ferret community, let alone the public at large.  What this means is,
there will always be someone who shops at Petco, and there will always be
someone who buys animals there.  We are all consumers, and have every
right to decide to do these things, and have every justification for
wanting to.  I prefer Petco to Petsmart because of their selection and
location.  These things are common decision makers for consumers.
 
Also, the idea that Peta proposes...first of all, laboratory sales are
another of those issues that are purely a matter of opinion.  I support
the sales of animals to laboratories who perform medical testing.  Flame
me if you will, but as a former biology major, I know how important it
is.  Plus, if we do as Peta suggests, and demand that Petco buy their
ferrets from other suppliers, we run into the problem of WHO.  None of
the big farms are much better than Marshall, and then we run the risk of
supporting the dreaded backyard breeder.
 
And if you want to know the truth, I've heard as many complaints on the
FML of small, "ma and pop" pet stores who are FAR worse than Petco, how
do we as consumers, who boycott what is, at least in my area, a decent,
clean store, full of knowledgable and helpful staff, decide what pet
store in our area we should patronize?  What if none of them are any
good?
 
The problems surmount any concern for animals.  There is no solution.
For my money, I'd go for changing legislation to better protect the
animals which will inevitably be sold, and stop wasting my time trying
to convince a company who's numbers say otherwise, that selling animals
is a problem.
 
Melissa Kuzara
Mira, Tasha, Robin, Nietzsche, Samurai and O'Dell
Missing Cael and Booboo always
[Posted in FML issue 3857]