>From:    Edward Lipinski <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Inferior Ferrets vs Superior Ferrets
>Well, then please tell me, first, do you agree that there are at least two
>broad categories of ferrets, based on their health and longevity?
 
No.
 
>Second, then if you do agree, perhaps haltingly, what names would you
>ascribe to the two categories?
 
What you really SHOULD mean is perhaps early-alter and late alter or breeder
ferrets.  They do not have to be YOUR ferrets to fit the second category.
Ms. Grant's terms aren't bad either.
 
Pam did a good job of pointing out the fallacy of you numbers.  We can
debate whether the fact that the ferrets were shelter turn-ins possibly
increased the incidences of adrenals.  The "home growns" as Pam put it would
thus have to be excluded.  But thats a completely different debate.
 
Pam's numbers point out that there very well could be a problem.  But her
sample set is so small that the margin of error would dwarf the values.  Its
not Pam's "fault".  It just is the way it is.  There are adrenal problems in
ferrets from every source.  Lets worry about what triggers the problems
rather than insisting "my ferrets better than your ferret".
 
Early altering could easily be the catalyst.  So might being turned into a
shelter.  So might be the color orange though I sincerely doubt that.
 
>This report is not designed as an attack on Marshall Farms.  It is an attack
>on ignorance.  Mine, as well as yours.
 
Uh... okay.
 
>From:    "Larry D. Tilford" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Pam Grant's future view
>Please, shelters owners/operators, understand that you are not helping your
>charges at all by driving away adoptees by being intrusive and stringent.
 
We are one of the shelters that does not approve of the overly nosy adoption
interviews.  We tend to think people are for the most part good.  We also
think poor people deserve pets too.  Too many of the shelter operators
wouldn't pass their own overly strict adoption requirements - they wouldn't
have to solicit funds otherwise.  We DO support the idea of shelters raising
funds.  Our own shelter is entirely supported by us and we help out the
local shelters on a regular basis.  bill often turns over part of his
judging fees for example.
 
There are 3 sources of ferrets.  Breeders, retail outlets (pet stores) and
shelters.  There are good reasons to work toward the elimination of the
second - pet stores - though there ARE good pet stores so we will be tossing
out the baby with the bath water.
 
>From:    Kim Latas <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Newbie owner wonders~?
 
High quality cat or kitten foods are rather similar to high quality ferret
foods.  Both cats ad ferrets are domesticated small carnivores with somewhat
similar diets.  The best ferret foods are better (for most) ferrets than the
better cat foods.  The better cat foods though are better thant he worst
ferret foods.
 
Please inform your vet that Imrab-3 is USDA approved for use in ferrets.
 
bill and diane killian
zen and the art of ferrets
mailto:[log in to unmask]  mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.zenferret.com/
[Posted in FML issue 2143]