Someone asked for proof about my statement that ferrets are routinely
destroyed if not sold at the market age of around 4-6 weeks, when the
farm's market is to wholesalers, distributers, and then ultimately the
pet stores.  This is a no-brainer in the sense that ferrets viewed as a
 
Where is the proof that they are shipping out kits at 4 weeks?  Are the
eyes open or closed?
 
And if you agree that sending them out that young is unacceptable, why
did you post previously that you will let 5 week old kits go to their
new homes?
 
from FML #5022:
If a buyer wants a kit that is 5 weeks old, I have them check out their
neutering costs and discuss that with them, and then they buy them
intact if they want a very young kit that is weaned and can afford the
surgery.
 
No responsible breeder would ever let a kit go prior to 8 weeks of age,
while most hold them until 10 - 12 weeks.
 
I offer no proof of any of this except to say that I stay on top of such
 
If you have no proof then why bother even mentioning it?  Without proof
they are just words and mean nothing.
 
not going to give myself any merit badges.  I am not in the pet store
market, so they know that I am not their competitor, just someone with
 
Umm...how can you say you are not in the pet store market when you *do*
sell to pet stores?  Or do the pet stores in Japan not count?  I know
folks in Japan who have purchased from you and was there myself when
your shipments came in.
 
for the sin of being "over the hill."  I recently had to pass on over
100 that I felt I could not place, and later confirmed with the breeder
the ultimate outcome of these kits.  This hurts.  So, yes, I know.  I
 
and
 
This is very stressful to watch, but watch I did--not on my kits, and
 
If you know of such things that are happening and do not do anything
about it, then you are no better than the people doing them.
 
If there truly are things like this going on, then we need to correct
them.  Are you going to be part of the solution or part of the problem?
 
Mary
 
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Novel Beginnings Ferretry
http://www.geocities.com/novelbeginnings/
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[Posted in FML issue 5027]