Hooray for Tanya's post!  This was excellent and I also agree about the
showing of animals - it is very cruel.  Hopefully you wont get any flames
on this because people get very defensive about it.  In my opinion,
breeders partake in shows to market themselves and their stock (this is
smart marketing, but I do not think shows are a good thing for any animal).
Shows expose your animals to unknowns, such as diseases.  Do we know
everything about how ADV is spread?  NO!
 
On the note about shelters remaining shelters NOT breeders, I agree as
well.  Most shelters that I have seen, that do breed, are doing it to
generate more money BUT how many times does a person come in to adopt and
end up taking a kit instead of the older ferret?  It happens at the Humane
Society - the puppies and kittens go first.  This is the main reason I
think that shelters should not breed.  I know of a shelter in my area who
claimed that the only reason they had kits available was because a pregnant
ferret came in and they could not do anything about it.  I find it amusing
that this same shelter has repeatedly produced kits since then.  Now it
could be that this shelter is getting alot of pregnant jills in, I don't
know, but it is possible.  I don't think that is the case.
 
>Now getting back to the FML and postings.  I find it offensive that the
>breeders on the board continuously bash one another when I feel they're
>all guilty animal abuse.  We all have our own opinions of what's
>considered a *beautiful/gorgeous/perfect* ferret.  But to me the
>*beautiful/gorgeous/perfect* ferret is the one that is healthy, happy, and
>well cared for.  I think we should all rethink our actions and motives.
>If you're going to be a breeder than breed, but don't go around defaming
>all other breeders because they do not conform to "your" standards.
 
My point exactly!  Everyone has different standards and that is what
makes ferretry interesting.  If you read the FML lately, there are a few
individuals who appear that their way is the only "right" way.  Well, I
don't think so.  The thing that irks me is that all breeders had to start
somewhere, so why don't those of you who breed think back and remember
how many mistakes you made when you started out.  I bet nobody bashed
you on the FML.  Let's remember that.  Ferretry is a CONTINUAL learning
experience.  I bet there are even breeders out there who are stuck in their
ways and wont accept new information about breeding because they think they
are experts in the field.  I wonder if some of them are reading this, I
hope so.
 
Have a fuzzy weekend!
[Posted in FML issue 3212]