Hi,
re: the debate on what European Ferrets die of.  I live in England, although
I am currently 'without ferret' I have had a couple in the past.  The first
died at 5 years old of pneumonia, the second at seven was PTS due to an
'inoperable' cyst.  I never heard of or had any experience of ECE before
subscribing to the FML.
 
>if ferrets are so cheap over there, who, other than a ferret fanatic,
>would bother to spend money on taking them to the vet when they could
>pick up another dozen for the same price?
 
Well ferrets here as in Australia can be either working animals or pets (not
both).  Obviously working ferrets may be viewed by some as being
'disposable', however IMO this is not the way they are viewed.  This can be
exemplified by the fact that there are many electronic devices for locating
ferrets underground which cost many times more than the animal itself.
People who 'work' with ferrets will take time and effort to humanely
retrieve ferrets who decide to stay put underground.  I am sure therefore
that even working ferrets will be seen by vets when they become ill or
otherwise require attention.
 
Ferrets are cheap here, however they are not a 'popular' choice for a pet
and I believe that the majority of pet ferret owners here are as they are in
the states educated and informed people who love these animals.  In my
experience people who love their pets do not have the above mentality, and
will do anything to make their much loved ferret better.  There will always
be exceptions, as there are in the states, but I do not believe that we are
any different from anywhere else in this regard.
 
Ferrets are not objects whereby the more you pay for them the more valuable
they are, is an adopted ferret given up free of charge worth less to its
owner than one costing $400?  I doubt it and the same principal applies in
the UK.  The money paid for a ferret here however small does not reflect the
animals value in the eyes of its owner.
 
I am unable to make comment on whether our ferrets are healthier than those
in the states, although it does appear to be that way.  I don't know why
this should be but maybe it has something to do with genetics and the fact
that all ferrets in the US must originate from a few imported specimens?.
 
Paul Webster.
[Posted in FML issue 1639]