This is a response to Regina Harrison's posting to the FML (#1294)
this morning. In her posting, Regina said that a friend of hers had
spotted a ferret in an Allston MA petstore.
 
Immediately after reading that post, I went down to what I think is the
pet store in question, The Pet Shop, on Harvard Ave in Allston.  I talked
to the manager, who said that they did not carry -- and have not carried
-- ferrets because they are not legal in Mass.  We talked very briefly,
and I gave her some brochures from the Mass Friends of the Domestic Ferret
and the Ferret Hotline number.  She was very receptive, and volunteered to
make copies of the literature, and to circulate our petition.  I will
return to drop off more petitions and a broadside that she can pass out.
She remarked that several of her customers had ferrets.
 
I think that the animals in question were very fuzzy rodents with a broad
faces, called Degus. These were in a tank above the hedgehogs.
 
In my opinion, pet shops that sell animals tend to be pretty squalid
places to begin with, but I don't think The Pet Store is any worse than
most.  When I visited this morning, the cages were clean and the animals
were fed.  They carry IAMS kitten food, and good quality pet supplies.
The manager was very willing to work with me on this ferret issue.
 
Before we start a campaign against a pet shop, I think that it would be
better to reach out and educate the pet shops--about ferret care and needs,
about cages, et cetera.  Especially here in Massachusetts, when we need the
pet shops on our side in order to get Bill 295 passed (as is, without
amendments), we need to take a collaborative approach, rather than an
adversarial one.  I'm not saying that if we witness intractable cruelty
like what's apparently going on in Moncton with the filing of teeth (in
spite of efforts to educate the owner) we should stay quiet.  I'm just
saying that before we start deluging the pet shops, the SPCA, and animal
control with calls, it is our responsibility to first ascertain the
situation, and then try to educate--unless the animals are in immediate
danger.
 
I'm not trying to slam Regina. I'm very glad that she said something about
this shop--I think that if someone even THINKS that they see a ferret at a
Mass shop, it must be investigated. It's possible that in Mass, with such
a transient student population, an unwanted pet could be dropped off at a
shop that isn't aware of the pet's legal status. I was also happy to have the
opportunity to try to enlist another pet shop to The Cause.
 
Take care,
-- Lee
[Posted in FML issue 1295]