I have seen several posts asking people not to flame people who come here
to dump pets.  Yes, it's important not to do things that could result in
the pet being dumped in an unsafe location or in a bad home.  Yes, we
should all try to control ourselves when we are upset.  ---BUT--- when
the dumper is saying that he or she is going to immediately go out and
get another pet -- then THAT needs to be addressed, for moral reasons if
nothing else.
 
Let me explain -- when someone comes on this list and says that "the
ferret is too much work -- it does X, Y, and Z" and we all know that
X,Y,and Z are things that cats and dogs and birds do, too, then I think
it is a moral obligation to tell the person "don't get another pet until
you can deal with X,Y,and Z." I say moral obligation, because to remain
silent will allow a situation to happen where another animal is very
likely to suffer because the same thing will happen again.
 
I don't care why people want to get rid of their ferrets; they're not
happy, fine.  But nobody had better tell me that I should support,
condone, or in any way agree that these people can avoid all the problems
that made the ferret an unacceptable pet by simply getting a different
pet.  The same thing will just happen over and over, and they will leave
a trail of discarded, broken-hearted pets in their wake.
 
Love requires sacrifice.  It's not "free." It's duty, obligation, and
responsibility, and people who can't deal with it shouldn't be made to
feel like that's ok.  Because it's not ok to the innocent, completely
helpless animal.  And it shouldn't be ok to anyone else.
 
Melissa Ince
[Posted in FML issue 3874]