Wow, I can't believe what some people are saying in defense of the
awful situation at DM's ferret farm. But it is the minority, so I
hope the rest of us can continue with finding the best way to help
these DM ferrets and seeing them protected in the future with hopeful
prosecution of DM.

But, I just had to comment on a few posts:

>My idea? How about purchasing kits from MF to prevent them from going
>to petstores where they are stressed, housed improperly, fed poor
>quality food and exposed to disease form other animals? Petstore
>ferrets seem to make up a large number of ferrets that end up in
>rescues to start with, so you'd just be cutting out the middle man
>right? Preventing them from suffering in petstores, then going to
>ignorant owners. Perhaps if you can buy enough there won't be any
>left for the petstores to sell?

Not sure if this was said in sarcasm, but if it wasn't, are you
serious? That would be giving MF business. Which would help make their
business of being a ferret mill profitable and continue to do what they
do. This is also why many of us don't want DM's ferrets bought in order
to save them.

What does make sense is to create laws for better treatment and
shipment of the ferrets from the mill and to educate the public on
what owning a ferret truly involves.

>We know Doug McKay personally. We have been to his ranch. It is not a
>mill.

Not sure what constintues a mill, but that seemed to be enough cages
to qualify as a large scale breeder or mill. It seems that even Doug
has communicated to others that he has more than he can care for.

>Those claiming to "rescue" ferrets from Doug McKay over the years
>have made a lot more money off of his ferrets than Doug ever did.

Then why does he continue? It's a business for him, if it's
unprofitable (or not profitable enough to properly care for and house
the ferrets) than he should close his business. Shelters are not in
business to make money, they are run to rescue ferrets from neglectful
and abusive situations.

>Doug is a kindly old man barely staying alive.

It is possible that the same could be said of the ferrets in his care.
He is a human who can get the care he needs. The ferrets can not, they
depend on him. If he can't give them the care they need than he should
give them up to the shelters that can. His health concerns are no
excuse for neglecting animals in his care when he has other options
and people offering to help.

>Shame on you who join the mobs without knowing anything about the real
>life of the people you so callously attack.

I'm not callously attacking him, but I am (as are others on this list)
very concerned about the ferrets. I would like to see them leave his
care if he (as he has apparently stated) can no longer care for them.

None of this happened overnight. DM had plenty of time to stop or slow
down on the breeding if things were too much for him to handle. This
has nothing to with being prissy pet owners, this has to do with being
responsible for lives in your care.

I am so glad that a website has been set up, and can keep all of us who
are concerned in the loop and ready to take action.

Risa

[Posted in FML 5541]