As I stated in my sign off.... in my humble opinion.  Because of space
limitations I had to keep my post short although I know in itself it was
far from short.  Nothing personal was intended and for the most part, was
referring to the observations that I have made about the relationships
between people and their non-human companions.  It's hard to stay
emotionally detached from a subject that definitely has its dividing line.
Emotions run high for subjects like this one.  I tried to keep mine from
my post as I could have gotten out of hand and told more stories about how
I have come to feel the way I do.  The point I was trying make here is for
people to dig down deep inside themselves and ask themselves why they get
into the breeding business to begin with?
 
So I am glad that you are an individual who looks after her own.  By taking
back the ferrets, it sounds like you are one of the breeders that cares for
the future of its charges.  But as mentioned before not all breeders follow
the same code of ethics.  But once again the issue here, the main issue is
that the woman couldn't live with the ferret and returned it.  Now bear in
mind that not all ferrets will have the same fighting chance you gave this
one.  Estimate the number of breeders who don't take ferrets back.
Multiply it by the number of cities in a state and multiply that number by
the number of states in the US alone.  Even if the number was initially
small, the end number is too large to even comprehend.  As I asked once
before, what is a life worth anyway?
 
As for income... this gets into the other controversy of using animals for
profit.  My personal feeling is that I would never do it.  But that is me.
And as individual as we all are, we have to make a moral judgment on our
own, and then live with it.  But, who speaks for those who can't speak for
themselves?  This could get into an animal rights debate and I'll end it
right now.  Personal feelings and emotion will always get in the way on
either side, so there will never truly be a calm debate about it.
 
I am deeply saddened to hear of any ferrets passing.  But I am angered more
by the use of animals as breeder animals as it perpetuates the idea of
animals for profit, what ever that may be.  Why do it in the first place?
And if a breeder is not in it for the money, then why sell them at all?
The debate in this issue could also get ugly as it is an emotional one
indeed.  You say yourself that Slinky's death wouldn't stop you from
breeding (ferrets I imagine).  It may not be common in the way that she
died, but as was stated before, the risks were considered acceptable.
Again, the question comes to mind, what is a life worth to you, especially
when the risks are considered acceptable.  I also agree with you when you
say that keeping a ferret offers its own set of complications.  And as a
present ferret co-habitator it is my responsibility to ensure that I do
everything in my power to protect the life of another living creature.
Breeding certain qualities out of an animal has its drawbacks.  History is
filled with animal monstrosities because of specialized breeding (such as
the persian cat with its flattened face and breathing difficulties) which
I don't believe you are doing.  So is breeding wrong for this reason?  We
aren't in a position to truly judge as genetics studies are still ongoing
and in the minds of some, in its infancy.
 
As I stated in my original post, my experiences are my experiences and this
posting was a reflection on the things I have seen.  I never for once would
say that a breeder doesn't love their brood unless I saw with my own eyes,
the empty faces of ferrets that had lost the hope to live.  And I didn't in
my post.
 
As for you, Sam, I am glad to hear you love your ferrets.  Will it change
my opinion?  For the time being, it will not.  But your contribution to the
world of these wonderful little fuzzies will not go unnoticed.  And believe
me, it will show in the faces of your ferrets.
 
Betty and her Blur O'Fur
[Posted in FML issue 2517]