Hiya Folks,
 
Yep, I'm gonna toss in my two cents worth here on dollars for ferrets and
the word "exotic".
 
More often than not I find myself disagreeing with the Killians (nothing
personal mind you), this time though...I'm with them 100% in reference to
the word "exotic".  Come on folks, it doesn't do any good to argue about
it.  Exotic is exotic...the word is used in the animal world loosely.  In
reference to people it means something else, in reference to geography it
means another, in reference to art still another defination is appropriate.
Exotic=wild?  Not a chance (perhaps they were confusing exotic with
erotic...:::snicker:::.) Right now the Bengal housecat is considered exotic.
It's a fairly new breed, and it isn't close to wild it's a "HOUSE CAT".  I
just saw Prairie Dogs for sale at a petstore....they're considered exotic.
The description of them states that although they're born in the wild they
adapt quite readily to domestic life.  Okay, so what *does* exotic mean?
In the animal world quite simply, "out of the ordinary" or "unusual" or my
personal defination "not a dog or a cat":::grin::::.  This covers elephants
to hamsters.  Where our responsibility lies is in the education of others
who tend to think as exotic as wild.  We can't change the world but even
the tiniest ripple in the pond eventually reaches the edge.
 
Now, in reference to the adoption of ferrets and the subsequent or
non-existant price of said fert.  Why must we lump everyone in one pile?
Come on...everyone is an individual and flexibility in our thinking is
imperitive to our existance.  Let's not talk about shelters, they deserve
every penny they get for a ferret so that they can take care of the next
unfortunate fuzz that comes to them.  So that's a moot point.  However when
dealing with private individuals let's do just that treat them as an
individual.  Whether someone pays money for the ferret or not doesn't
qualify the interested party as a good or bad ferret parent.  Over the
years dealing with several different species I've come to understand one
thing....everyone views the world through different eyes.  Here's some
examples:
 
1. One person wanted $$ for a pet they no longer wanted to ensure that the
new owner was sincere and would care for and could afford care for the pet.
 
2. One person desperately needed to adopt out a pet as they were moving
unexpectedly and couldn't take their loved one with them.  They wanted a
good home but didn't want to eliminate possible good homes just because
someone didn't have the $$ at that moment.
 
3. One person didn't give a hoot who adopted their pet and just gave it
away to the first person who showed interest.
 
4. One person didn't want to deal with adopting out their pet and dumped it.
 
5. One person was asking for $$ but when they found who they wanted to take
their pet *gave* the pet to its new family.
 
6. One person seeked out another knowing that their pet would have a good
home with them.  Gifting their pet to that person.
 
Those are just examples of the types of situations I have been in.  The
only person I could find fault with was the one who dumped a dog in my
neighborhood.  Each person sees the value of an animal in an individual
manner.  How can we possibly say that giving away is the only way or selling
is the only way?  Personal choice should be honored (unless they're dumping
a pet, then they should be honored with a bloody nose) not judged.  I was
recently *given* a Sugar Glider w/ cage, toys, and food.  Does that make me
a "bad" choice for caretaker?  Nope...infact, this person stated that she
would rather I took in her SG because she *knew* he would be cared for and
loved whereas if she sold him in the paper who knows what kind of family he
would have.  You see...I've seen people pay hundreds of dollars for a pet
and then: hate, abuse, lose interest, and even kill that animal.  I once had
a friend that carefully screened a potential buyer for a Himalayan.  She
visited the home, she called his references, interviewed the whole family,
everything humanly possible she did.  The man forked over $500 and in two
weeks he "snapped" and strangled the kitten.  Nothing is infallible is it?
 
If you are adopting a ferret or putting one up for adoption...merely
do your best in placing, ask for or pay $$ if you wish or don't.  But never
assume that one way is better than the other.
 
Phew!  Either I said alot or alot of nothing. ::::grin::::
 
Nancy
_____
Contact through ICQ via 3985712 and let's talk about:
Astrology, Magick, Aromatherapy, Wolfdogs, Ferrets, or Sugar Gliders.
[Posted in FML issue 2320]