The timing of the release of the Loose Lips Sink Kits document right
after the MD rescue looks as if the document was written in response
to that rescue.
 
In fact, the accelerated writing the document WAS prompted by the news
of the MD rescue, but it is NOT aimed at anyone involved in that effort.
None of the people who assisted in the writing (about a dozen people so
far) had any direct involvement in the MD rescue, so none of us knows the
exact circumstances.  However, several of us have been involved in large
scale rescues.  And ALL of us have seen situations where the abuser was
NOT successfully prosecuted or made to pay for their crimes.  In some
cases, the person was even allowed to start the abusive situation again,
while the ferret community was left to bear the entire burden of rescuing
and rehabilitating the ferrets.
 
We hope this will not be the case in Maryland, and that if the conditions
warrant (and it appears they do!), the breeder will be prosecuted and
prevented from owning ferrets again.  In the meantime, we are confident
that the ferret community will again show it's incredible compassion and
generosity in helping out Rocky's Ferret Rescue and Shelter and the
others involved in this effort.  As always, you guys are the best!
 
And also in the meantime, it is important for those who may be involved
in similar rescues in the future to have guidelines to follow.  Hence the
writing of the document.
 
We invite everyone to provide suggestions to improve it.  Barb Clay (who
saw the draft prior to publication on the FML) has already provided a
couple excellent suggestions.  When complete, the final version will be
placed on the IFC website.
 
Thanks to all who helped both in writing the document and rescuing the
ferrets.
 
Linda Iroff
Co-Director
International Ferret Congress
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 4222]