Hi all . . . I'm wondering about copyrights--particularly the newspaper
article deleted from post in 10/31 fml.
 
Isn't an article from a newspaper from 1995 essentially "out of print" ?
I'm thinking that you can go into any library and make photocopies of any
newspaper w/o a problem.  It's not as if the issue is currently on sale
anywhere (unlike a book or current journal) or that the newspaper would
request a fee for use of the article .  .  .
 
Of course, I could be wrong.  I know I used some journal quotes in some of
my posts .  .  .  and I think it's ok as long as the source is listed.  I
didn't reproduce the entire article, tho'--and maybe that's where the
difference lies.  Hmm .  .  .  I just wonder if the same rules apply to
newspapers as to other materiel.
 
I have an interest in the article as I'm writing myself a research grant in
hopes of doing some extensive research into the issue of ferrets biting
childen, esp.  the care and treatment of the ferrets before the biting
incident.
 
My premise is that if the animals had a history of good temperament, were
properly cared for, and properly supervised, the bite should not have
happened.  I think the safest way to "properly supervise" a ferret in a
household with small children is to cage it at night and pay attention when
it is loose.  (It's hard to pay attention when you're asleep!) We cage our
ferret at night just to keep the little guy out of trouble, but when we're
home, his cage door is open.
 
A few problems at our house: Our dog, a pit-bull/lab, was raised with ferts
and is good with them, for the most part.  She does not, however, tolerate
any fert bugging her while she's eating, and Pepper hasn't caught on to this
yet.  Which means I have to watch him carefully while the dog eats, so he
doesn't get his little head in big trouble--like dog jaws.  The problem is
that the dog will share her water dish and even allow Pepper to steal her
food--AS LONG AS SHE ISN'T EATING AT THE TIME.  Pepper runs a pretty high
risk of injury when he attacks the dog's butt while she's munching!  So if
you're introducing ferrets and dogs, watch carefully for warning signs and
territorial rights .  .  .  and figure out if there are specific things the
dog won't tolerate.  I've had Harley (dog) for 4 years--I can tell when
she's getting stressed from the ferret bugging her and needs the solitude of
the bedroom.
 
If you're planning to get a pup to add to a houseful of ferts: Look for a
pup that is outgoing, but don't pick the most aggressive or the most
cowardly.  Watch terrier breeds too--many of them are instinctive
"ratters"--we got lucky with Harley somehow.  Her mom was a lab, for sure,
and we were told her dad was a golden retriever--as a puppy this was
believable.  As an adult, it is not.  Vet said she's got pit-bull coloring,
body-type, jaw grip .  .  .  we would have never purposely got a pit-bull to
have with ferrets, but luckily it all worked out fine.  She's good with
ferts, but because of her nervousness and the crushing grip of her jaws, we
never leave the animals together unsupervised.  Oh, we don't leave the dog
unsupervised with children either, for the same reasons, even though she
loves children.  If she's cornered, she'll snap out of fear.
 
'nuff said.
 
--Sherri
[Posted in FML issue 1739]