>From: zen and the art of ferrets - bill and diane <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Zen's rebuttal of A-X posting
>Nearly every shelter ferret placed IS potentially a loss of a sale for
>Marshall. Sorry but that's the way it is.
Well, hello again Bill and Diane. I have to disagree herewith your reply to
alphachi's post. The sale of the kit was made prior to it needing shelter.
Another marketing dilemma. Sell everyone you can and to heck with if folks
really want them... lets flood the markets! What I see is that there are
too many ferrets being sold-- marketed as disposable commodities. Now I
will leave the disposable breeder subject alone -- but how can you -- unless
you wholeheartedly condone the disposable ferret theory, sit there and pound
your keyboard in defense of the producer and claim they are losing money to
shelter adoptions???? The reality here is that just maybe IF ferrets were
not so available through pet stores that they would not end up in shelters.
Or perhaps not so many. Yes, and you will run the numbers thing here and
adamantly claim that there are not many in the shelters. I just got off the
phone -- over 100 in a single Colorado shelter, over 83 in a TX shelter, we
know over 125 in a single FL shelter and lets not forget the 160 in a single
OR shelter! Wake up and smell the roses or the coffee, whatever your
preference! Pet store ferrets are too available. That's my opinion. Yes,
maybe I need to take a pill today, but our points of perspective are at
opposite poles. I admit it. That combined with the recent shelter loss of
2 precious kids to various cancers with several more requiring surgery.
This is a very important issue to us here,and to myself and in fact one that
needs to be addressed somehow by someone, and some one who cares. So save
your stamps. I'll step off my soapbox now-- but perhaps we should all just
passively sit back and buy stock with the producers -- then we could all
have a rosy outlook, what do you think Bill???
>We run a shelter. We have taken in the "remaining stock" of a few
>"breeders" that quit and know very well what t hat entails. We've just
>taken in 23 in one lump. More than many shelters al low in at all. We see
>the strain on the shelters first hand - not from email whining but actually
>handling more ferrets than we want in our house beca use we want to do right
>by the ferrets. We'll absorb the costs of feeding, altering and any other
>care these ferrets need. We do not accept donatio ns still - its our
>feeling that our shelter should run on our funds. We can afford to do the
>things we choose to do. I don't "like" talking about taking these in
>because it seems that we are starting to whine about our load. Don't want
>to whine - its OUR choice to run a shelter
Bill, please do not put down those kind hearted folks who are running
shelters, caring for those uncared for without an income. Not all of us
have gold cards etc! They are trying--and perhaps sometimes look for help
-- but they are trying to fight an uphill battle.. if folks chose to
support or not-- who are we to publicly agree or disagree? Many folks who
undertake sheltering quickly learn that the burden of finance is one that
eventually they will lose to. BUT these folks give all they have for as
long as they have -- and many folks who are not strong enough to do the
work, to hold ferrets as they one by one pass on to a greater place feel
happy to support them. Oh yes, and finally, there IS a difference between
sheltering and breed rescue. What you recently took in is considered in the
sheltering community as breed rescue. There are not many strict ferret
shelters in the US (following the criteria of SPCA or humane societies).
Most ferret shelters start or become breed / rescue organizations. I am not
saying that is wrong or right, but different. (Most humane shelters
incorporate the use of breeders for this type of work-- it saves them
considerable money in caring for purebreeds.)
In breed / rescue those folks assume the animals and absorb what they want
for their own breeding purposes, then they find suitable homes for those who
are older,retired or not preferred for their use... they will occasionally
adopt or place unaltered animals.. not exactly the line of thought against
overpopulation of pets though... Another difference in opinions. I am sure
what you do is good, but different from what us northerners are dealing with
with 99 percent pet store ferrets in our shelters. We have taken in
breeders as well. The last breeder rescue here was 17 out of 31 of the most
atrociously abused and neglected breeders I have yet to see from neighboring
VT. All required immediate neutering and vaccinations. Out of 17 we have
had 5 die of lymphosarcoma(4) one also had testicular cancer -- and
insulinoma(1). These ferrets when seized by investigators had been fed only
raw garden vegetables, were severely anemic, dehydrated and sick. Several
were over 6 years, they had never had shots and had never seen a vet. They
are still 3 years later being cared for in foster homes-- all unadoptable
animals. And if you do not condone the ongoing hospice and care of
unadoptable ferrets what course would you elect? Two of the remaining being
treated for lymphosarcoma. This is a true rescue scenario! Yes, at times
we all need to take in a large influx. I hope yours are more profitable
than those we have found. And on to the money issue -- please don't damn
the non profit shelters for hoping for funds, even for soliciting them.
After all the great chance that funding would fall in your lap without
asking is pretty slim. --... the IRS process is consuming and costly-- and
we ( the non profit shelters) can certainly use the help that SPCA and
Humane shelters get. After all they don't pay salaries, or even reimburse
transportation -- just need to pay vets, medicines and food. If you indeed
find this condemnable -- perhaps we (the shelters who occasionally need some
support) could ship them all to you!
>What shelters could handle taking all of the retired breeders from all of
>the ranches? There aren't enough shelters.
Right again, I couldn't say this loud eneough! and thanks for openly
stating this.. But we (shelters who have initiated a coarse of change)
shouldn't get put down for trying to do all that we can, even if in the end,
the goals were too great to be accomplished. There is still merit in a
learning experience. It would be utopic if we could all find something to
agree upon in the ferret community. Lets try!More can be accomplished by
working together, not tearing each other apart!
Fondly in ferrets,
Alicia a shelter Mom -with her own opinions
-------------------------------------------------------------------
visit Ferret Wise shelter!! homepage at
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~crassi/index.html
updated regularly!
[Posted in FML issue 2002]
|
