I just thought I would put my $.02 in regarding the pet store ferret
issue.  These are the only situations I think we should buy from pet
stores.  I do think we owe it the ferret ,as responsible and educated
ferret owners, to step in.  Other than the two situations below, we
should all get our ferrets from shelters.
 
If we do any more than this we are helping to keep the pet stores and
mass breeders in business.  I believe that as educated ferret owners we
should buy the pet store ferrets only in the following situations:
 
A - If we see an sick and ill ferret where the store will not remedy the
situation!  i.e. medical attention, moistening food, getting the ferret
out of a store window and other situations where the ferret's life is at
stake and in imminent danger!  We cannot let the babe die!
 
And/OR
 
B - Otherwise unadoptable (to the general and uneducated public) ferret,
i.e. severe biter, older, disabled or deformed.  We cannot let them live
out their days in a cage!
 
Now, by stepping in, I mean:
 
A - Buy the ill or unadoptable ferret.  We all know that the general
and uneducated public will not buy, want or know how to take care of
that kind of ferret.
 
B -Go back to breeder for reimbursement, notification of the conditions
in the pet store and their refusal to correct an intolerable situation.
 
C - Get the public animal agencies involved and use the rest of us on the
FML to help put pressure on the breed and agencies, you don't need to do
it all yourself, let us help you.
 
Sure it's bad to see dirty, small or bad living conditions for our little
friends.  It breaks my heart too!  We should try to get the pet store to
see the error of their ways so they will remedy the situation.  If they
don't, we can still get agencies and breeders involved, but we don't need
to buy the little ones.  Their life is not in imminent danger and someone
who doesn't know better is going to buy the ferret anyway.
 
We will never get those pet stores to stop selling ferrets, but we can
help educate them and not contribute to the trade sweet little ferrets.
 
Kim the Oregon one
 
Kim Reyes
Residential Specialist
John L. Scott Real Estate
Direct:  (503) 380-4195
Toll Free 1-877-490-2595
http://www.kimreyes.com
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[Posted in FML issue 3824]