> I'd like to see a requirement for every breeder and every person
>rescuing ferrets to be licensed by the local authorities, with the
>premises subject to inspection and with proper breeding or
>fostering records kept.
Yeah, lets leave it to the RSPCA to "euthanase" (murder) healthy
creatures that are too inconvenient to house, thats far preferable
than having someone take in the poor little guys who become homeless
for whatever reason.
I think 3 of mine were probably very happy that someone was there to just
" go get them" when their previous owners grew tired, first of the albino
that was running alive with fleas, then the sable twins one of whom still
has biting issues. much better maybe to turn them free in the woods and
let them take their chance huh? and make no mistake, thats what was
going to happen to these girls the owner told me so... and how I get out
of there without hitting the guy I will never know, Except I remember
thinking that I couldn't help these kinda scared little guys if I was
locked up.
Make no Mistake, this would happen far more. My Vet knows that in the
case of abandoned or otherwise homeless Ferrets they can call me... no I
don't see myself as a rescue, but there are none within around 80 miles
that will take ferrets. So where do they go then?
Licensing and inspection is going to cost, "Big Brother" is not only
controlling and intrusive, but expects you to pay for the pleasure of
his scrutiny. It just adds to the expense of giving a few creatures a
forever home, or for taking them in, keeping them safe and well till a
forever home can be found for them, especially when you consider that
some people seem to regard ferrets as disposable and so rarely if ever
take them to a vet, it all costs, and while I don't begrudge the drain on
my very limited income I resent having to pay for some civil servant (who
probably knows diddly squat about ferrets) to tell me if I am a fit and
proper person to give them another chance at a decent quality of life.
If this were in place, and suddenly there was a glut of homeless ferrets
(as apparently there was a few years ago round here when the rabbeting
wasn't good) I would be forced to choose between doing what was "right"
(taking in the creatures) and doing what was "legal" turning them away,
("Im sorry I don't have the right bits of paper") that is to most likely
condemn them to a slow hungry cold death on the local ranges, and don't
shake your head in disbelief, such is the callousness of some people, my
girls came within a whisker of being in that situation.
Before anything happens to reduce the already small number of shelters
and welfare groups in the UK, I would like to see the RSPCA disbanded
and replaced by proper local authority animal welfare officers, trained
in the care of domestic creatures. It will never happen, but the RSPCA
have repeatedly proved themselves unfit to act as a welfare provider,
and proposals like this are likely to give them powers which they don't
actually have at the moment (but would dearly love), and sadly, given the
cut price nature of this country now, any moves such as you describe are
likely to place more control in the hands of this already discredited
organization
Our thoughts to those with sick or angelled sock stashers
Cris Page & the terrible twosome
Skweek (Spookydook) & Rhoobarb (Biteyweezil)(Sable Twin)
Remembering
Custard (Cussie(angel)weezil) sister of Rhoobarb.(2nd of the sable twins)
Bubbles(Da Warweezil)First Ferret par excellence, Leader of the
Furkidz.
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[Posted in FML issue 4415]
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