Khaz and I have been practicing sneaking her into places lately, so we went
to the movies together a few nights back.  It was one of those drama type
films, so the on-screen action wasn't too intense, but we did sit pretty
close.  I figured Khaz would just curl up in my jacket as usual, but she
definitely wanted to watch the movie.  I slouched down in my chair and she
stretched out on my chest.  With her head using my arm as a pillow, she
stared interestedly at the screen for at least two hours.  Towards the very
end, when things got all gooey, Khaz apparently decided I might need some
comforting, and she oozed up onto my shoulder and placed her head against my
cheek.
 
Personally, I think ferrets should be outlawed because they're too darn good
at stealing human hearts (along with everything else).
 
Now back to the evil pet store topic.  I received a number of supportive
replies (thanks!) from people who agreed that the pet store with aquariums
full of unaltered ferrets with scabs on their necks was indeed evil.
However, not one of them claimed to be a breeder or have any special
knowledge of how breeding ferrets or unaltered males should be housed.
Before I can proceed with any accusations of abuse, I need to know if this
really is abuse by some at least vaguely defensible legal standard (e.g.,
what professional breeders generally consider acceptable practice).
 
I restate my questions:
 
1.  Are unaltered males normally housed together?  Are the scabs on these
guys' necks indications that unacceptable or dangerous interactions are
taking place?
 
2.  Is it normal to leave a female to be bred in a cage with a male for two
weeks straight, or should she, as one person wrote to me, be allowed a rest
period after each coupling?  Are the scabs on her neck normal?
 
And finally, one person wrote that their ferret who developed scabs on its
neck subsequently died from distemper.  Although this seems likely to be a
coincidental association, I do know that none of these pet store ferrets
have been vaccinated for distemper.  Is it possible that there really is a
connection here?
 
Thanks in advance.  Please do take the time to reply if you can add more
than just "my opinion based on how I treat my own two ferrets."
 
-- Kim ("Hmmm, I wonder what Khaz would think of IMAX?")
   Khaz ("Hey, are there any movies with raisins in starring roles?")
[Posted in FML issue 1869]