We get a lot of mail here at Modern Ferret - subscriptions, letters,
photographs, etc.  Many of the people who write to us use address labels
provided by various animal-related organizations such as PETA.  We always
find it frustrating that people who are obviously ferret lovers are showing
their support for anti-ferret organizations.
 
Whenever organizations like PETA, Audubon Society, Sierra Club, etc.  make
statements that ferrets are "wild animals" they are harming ferret lovers
in many ways.  Aside from the obvious problems like their efforts to make
ferrets illegal as pets, there are the subtle problems as well.  I
personally feel that ferret owners would have more and better medical
resources available if ferrets were given their due consideration as a
household pet.  If you as a ferret owner would like there to be a choice of
*approved* ferret rabies or distemper vaccines (because you don't like the
ones currently available), then you want to be able to convince
manufacturers that you have house pets that get medical treatment as
opposed to wild animals out in the woods.
 
Timely editorial:
 
In the issue of Modern Ferret that just finished printing now (Nov/Dec 1998
Issue - which will start shipping soon) we feature a letter that PETA sent
to our Ralph in response to his query about ferrets.
 
PETA states in their letter to (our ferret) Ralph:
"...just because 49 states allow ferrets to be kept as companions does not
mean that ferrets *should* be kept as companions."
"Ferrets are not domesticated animals; their real home is in nature."
"... it is unfair to keep them in captivity."
 
They also included a newspaper clipping written by Ingrid Newkirk which
states:
"The most devoted ferret-keepers admit that 'ferret toys' are no substitute
for the full life an adult ferret would live in his or her natural
surroundings."
 
"But, in the future, ferret fanciers will find they can live without ferrets
as easily as they can live without other appealing animals whose real home
is in nature."
 
PETA is currently soliciting for donations from ferret owners to help stop
ferrets being sold for use as lab animals.  What they don't tell ferret
owners is that their ultimate plan is to get rid of ferrets altogether
("their real home is in nature").  They gladly accept your money without
telling you their full story.  Is that *ethical* ?
 
We know ferret owners support PETA because of the barrage of PETA stickers
etc. they send to us - what we don't know is why they support PETA.
Statements like the ones PETA makes only help to make ferrets illegal and
prevent ferrets from getting equivalent care to the medical advances there
are for cats and dogs.
 
You can read their letter in the upcoming Modern Ferret or you can write to
PETA (their address is on their web site) and they will gladly send you a
packet of their anti-ferret propaganda. Then you can decide for yourself
what to do about it.
 
- Eric
 
Modern Ferret Magazine - For ferret owners. By ferret owners.
Mary & Eric Shefferman & the fuzzies: Sabrina, Ralph, Marshmallow,
Knuks, Trixie, Bosco da Gama, Balthazar, Cauliflower, and Koosh
http://www.modernferret.com
 
[Moderator's note: PETA's web site is http://www.peta-online.org/
My standard disclaimer now: General PETA discussions will NOT be accepted
for the FML -- they must relate specifically to ferrets.  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 2452]