I have not regularly posted to the FML, however, I feel it is necessary
to respond to William Killian's inflamatory post which is directed
less at the current situation surrounding Doug McKay's operations and
more toward me (and others) as a personal attack.

I am personally responsible for one of the affidavits currently
displayed on MFRAN’s website. In order to be clear in my response
today, I looked up the definition of affidavit to affirm my knowledge
of the definition of "affidavit." According to the dictionary, an
affidavit is a 'written declaration made under oath before a notary
public or other authorized officer.' The document currently visible on
MFRAN's website meets this standard. In order to be assured of meeting
this standard, I also used the dictionary to attain the definition of
"declaration." According to the same dictionary, a declartion is
"something announced, vowed, or a proclamation.' According to the
dictionary, and our country's right to access to the legal system, an
individual neither needs to be an English major or an award winning
spelling bee contestant in order to meet the standards to create an
affidavit.

I do not deny the fact that I did pay for the ferrets that I have
personally travelled to Mr. McKay's property to receive. I, nor anyone
representing me, have asked for money in order to purchase these
particular ferrets nor to cover their related medical expenses (such as
vaccinations and/or altering as examples). However, I (in my
experience) am not aware of any shelter/rescue that has not paid for a
ferret (in any condition) for the sole purpose of removing that ferret
from an unhealthy or unsafe environment.

As to Mr. Killian's vindictive and judgmental comments, specifically
"hatefilled, probably lower middle class city snobs," I will only
retort his claims with actual facts considering Mr. Killian has never
met me, nor has any factual information to offer about myself or others
previously or currently involved in MFRAN's rescue operations. I was
raised and still live in a small country town, and have experience with
farms and farm lives as both sides of my family own farms. Since I was
a child, I have been responsible for the feed and care for all types
of animals (both pet and farm classification). Myself, and those in my
family, have always put the care, necessities and well-being of animals
first. I cannot measure the toll of sleepless nights due to sick
animals or inclimate weather necessitating that I or a family member
stay in the barns with the animals to ensure their health and safety.
Unlike Mr. Killian's claims that trash/rubish piles are a necessary
condition of farm life, we never have such on our property because our
local governments had measures in place (ordinances and ordinance
control officers) in order to fine or shut down local farmers who did
not keep their properties free of rubish. In my farming experience, no
animal was ever kept in the inhumane living conditions in which Doug
McKay's ferrets currently are being forced to reside. As to the rest of
Mr. Killian's personal attacks I will not respond. I have no desire to
enter into a "flame" contest via the FML, however, I will contest that
Mr. Killian has no knowledge of me, my current living situation, my
experience or who I am as a person and for him to make comments that
imply that he does indeed are false and bring into question his entire
understanding of any of the facts regarding MFRAN's rescue operations
in regards to Doug McKay's ferret mill.

For the record, I do not blame Doug McKay for the weather. However, I
do blame him for not providing the necessary shelter for the ferrets
given the nature of Midwest weather conditions for the winter months.
While it is true the farms often emply "barn cats" in order to control
rodents and other vermin, ferrets ARE NOT rats, vermin or related
biologically to either. In my personal experience, even "barn cats"
receive humane treatment and medical care for the benefit they provide
a farm.

While I personally could create many lengthy posts regarding both Doug
McKay's ferret mill, its conditions, or Mr. Killian's vocal support, I
will not. I, personally, invite each member of FML to take a moment of
your time to go to MFRAN's website (www.mfran.org), read the posted
affidavits and view the pictures of the conditions in which these
ferrets are being forced to live and make your own judgment as to
whether MFRAN's rescue efforts are just in your mind. I invite Mr.
McKay to openly invite all to see the conditions of his ferret mill and
judge the conditions for themself if he believes my statements, the
statements of others who have personally witnessed the conditions of
his farm or MFRAN's rescue operations are false and slanderous.

Sincerely
Hallee Kuecken

[Posted in FML 5544]