>From:    Betty Rebel <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Ferrets and Rabits and Nest Eggs
>I do my best not to judge or verbally assault people via e-mail so please
>read this with an open mind.
 
Keep in mind that disagreement with you is not assaulting you.  But you do
blame someone for something beyond their control.
 
>Teaching an animal (ANY animal) to be agressive leads to behaviours that
>are not consistant with normal domesticated behaviour.  I studied this
>particular issue in relationship to domesicated dogs while I was in college
>and have , over the years, found it to be true in almost ALL species.
>Humyns are a perfect example of this principle.  NUFF SAID!
 
We disagree.  Not nearly enough said, and what was said was not accurate.
 
You perhaps misunderstood your class or your teacher was deficient.  And
perhaps you should rethink your understanding of "domesticated"
behavior.
 
You are attacking someone out of what we perceive to be misinformation.
 
Dogs, cats and ferrets were all domesticated specifically with the intent
of retaining their innate drives to kill.
 
Cats and ferrets were both most probably domesticated primarily to kill
mice.
 
Dogs to help protect and help with the hunt.  Both involve aggression.
 
You do not train ferrets to kill, it is instinctive.
 
>From:    Anonymous Poster <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: rabbits and ferrets
>in responce to steve's post... aren't ferrets considered domestic animals?
>then i wouldn't refer to them as "predators" unless they've been trained
>to be.
 
You too misunderstand what it is to be a predator.  Ferrets are carnivorous
or predators.  Take you pick.  They are innately driven to eat flesh which
if it wasn't for our intervention would come from killing prey.  Ferrets
are not always trained to kill.  To many if not most it is natural.
 
>i don't know about you, but my ferret doesn't have an instictively
>predacious bone in his body when it comes to dogs, cats, or any other
>species.
 
Disregard this at the risk of other animals.  Dogs and cats are probably
safe with their size.  Kittens and puppies might not be.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
[Posted in FML issue 3094]