Paragraph 6 of Wayne Pacelle's interview says they have 8 areas thay
plan to focus campaigns against. One of those is "keeping exotics
as pets". I don't know bout the rest of you but while ferrets are
considered a "domestic" animal. Most veterinarians, pet shops and other
animal experts label ferrets as "exotic"! So now what do we do?

Do we establish a lobbying group to prove to politicians that ferrets
have been domesticated about as long as cats have been? But unlike a
cat - ferrets don't go feral. Hasn't been a very successful argument
for ferret advocates in California.

Personally I have a hard time taking "vegans" seriously when vegans try
to impose their views upon other animal caretakers, especially those
that care for carnivores. When I see all the BUNK that vegans attempt
to pass off as good alternatives to feeding a carnivore meat - well,
it just doesn't wash!

The fact is that some animals evolved to eat other animals and usually
there is yet another animal that will prey upon the predator.

Comments further into the interview about the HSUS amassing personnel
and funds necessary to present their position in acceptable ways to
politicians as being legitimate is laughable as if there is such a
thing as an honest politician - HAH! Only proves what most of us
already know: Those with the most gold make the rules!

I perused several of those Satya pages and didn't see mention of
ferrets. But did see reference to exotics. So maybe we as ferret owners
should take the tiller to hand and steer the ship to get ferrets taken
off the "exotics" list?

What will be definition of an exotic? An animal NOT bred by man but
captured in the wild? I'm not a fan of this idea - stripping the wild
to get pets. Although my corn snake, Slinky, was found over 10 years
ago as a fingerling snakelet in a hedge bush and thrives within my home
as a "pet". Being an Okeetee Corn Snake, she is indigenous to Florida,
but still considered an "exotic" pet by a vet and other people.

How about an animal not indigenous to a specific area? Well for the
U.S. that certainly rules out parrots, parrotlets, macaws, cockatiels,
parakeets, cockatoos, lorikeets, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, cats,
pigs, most bovines and even horses, not to mention a multitude of
snakes, frogs, toads, lizards. Does that mean only dogs could be
considered domestic pets? Well only if the breed originated in the U.S.

Many people would consider anything other than a dog or cat to be
exotic. Then again, some dog owners would consider a Chinese Crested to
be an "exotic". Some cat owners would consider the Hairless Sphynx to
be an "exotic".

How many ferret owners think an angora ferret is "exotic"? Who will
define this term? What will you do if your beloved pet becomes an
exotic outlawed companion? Will you leave this decision up to a group
of vegans?

Cheers,
Kim

[Posted in FML 7024]