Jennifer Coyer aka Billy Ramos had some complaints about people with
practical experience (i.e. breeders) trying to "pass off as experts on
animal."  Specifically, she attacked Ed Lipinski's claims for L.U.M.P.S.
(one of the many "duck soup" type recipes that seem to help ailing ferrets)
by sarcastically writing "Great, feed them mushy food that can easily decay
their teeth."  Perhaps she doesn't realize that Ed uses LUMPS just like many
other ferret owners use "duck soups"--as a supplement for healthy ferrets,
and as a nursing diet for animals who can't or won't eat solid food.
 
I have known Ed Lipinski since 1992, when I adopted two kits from the
shelter/breeding operation he runs in his basement as part of Ferrets
Northwest (one kit was bred there, the other was a MF rescue).  Ed is
definitely an eccentric character (and I evaluate his postings using the
same common sense I do any postings).  For example, he often wears an odd
antique German military outfit as he presides over the twice-annual ferret
frolics in the Seattle area (which would not happen if he did not organize
and promote them).  I would put him in the same category as the "Think
Different" characters in the Apple Computer commercials that are running
now--someone who changes the world.  And I take it for granted that we're
all eccentric on the FML--we share an unreasonable love for ferrets.
 
One particular quote from Jennifer's posting seemed out of line given that
we on the FML share an interest in the well-being of ferrets: "And I am not
impressed that you are a ferret breeder.  I am more impressed with those who
spend their days making efforts to find homes for hundreds of homeless
fuzzies in shelters." Along with his careful small-scale breeding, Ed *does*
run a shelter.  In fact, Ed has done ferret-kind a huge service over the
years, finding homes for hundreds of homeless ferrets, and educating
hundreds if not thousands of potential ferret owners (including me, when I
was a ferret novice).
 
I don't know what all of Jennifer's book learning has done for ferrets, but
I know for a fact that Ed Lipinski's methods of ferret husbandry produce
healthy, happy, long-lived ferrets, both via small scale breeding with an
eye towards improving the species, and by nursing to health the strays that
come through his shelter.  I think that his ferrets do well because of their
diet and exercise, both indoor and outdoor, but whatever the reasons, his
ferrets do well.
 
I don't think anyone would argue with the advice that Totally Ferret is a
good thing to feed your ferrets.  But it's closed-minded to say that it's
the only good (or even great) diet possible.  Further, it didn't seem to me
that Ed's posting was attacking Jennifer's knowledge, just offering an
alternative that works for him.  I'm probably being too thin-skinned on Ed's
behalf by defending him--I doubt he'll bother, but it seems worthwhile for
everyone who cares about raising healthy ferrets to know that what he's
reporting really does work.
 
Happy Ferretting!
Dennis
P.S.  And in a probably vain attempt at heading off another seemingly
improbable flame-fest: the hypothetical breeder who kills 10,000 ferrets a
year is definitely not Ed--I'd guess that he breeds fewer than 10 litters a
year, and his is a no-kill shelter.
 
[Moderator's note: Thank you for clarifying, as did others, that my comment
yesterday stating Ed wasn't a breeder wasn't accurate.  It would have been
more correct to say he's not the 10,000 ferret per year breeder alluded to
in his post.  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 2123]