The Flemings write:
>As far as my wallet . . . let me tell you about it.  As a breeder yourself,
>I am sure you know all the costs that go into breeding ferrets  <snip> the
>cost to do all this breeding and showing - and most of the time I don't even
>break even!  I am not in it for the money!
 
My response: You are way out of line with your comments as you are posting
outright lies about me.  I am not a breeder!  I have never sold a kit in my
life - I have never had one to sell!  But I do have the following costs:
Suprise!  have exactly the same costs as you do.  I pay all my entry fees,
etc.  out of pocket, and don't do it because I am trying to promote sales of
my imaginary kits.  I run a shelter.  I take in ferrets.  Most of the time I
pay for their care out of my pocket.  Adoption fees don't come close to
paying for $400 surgeries to pin a leg broken by an abusive owner,
adrenalectomies, and others.  Easily half of the ferrets that come into our
shelter need some sort of medical care.  The adoption fees barely cover the
food and litter.  I don't adopt my shelter ferrets at shows, but our shelter
often has a table with handouts and photos, which we pay for out of our
pocket.  We do hope to adopt out a couple of ferrets to people who meet us
at shows, but that is done after the fact, and if we don't, we hope we have
at least educated people.  I also run a club, and have some out of pocket
expenses for that as well.
 
>If I don't care about my ferrets then why would I tell every customer that
>they can call us at home with questions - 24 hours a day!  Why, if I didn't
>care about my ferrets, would I keep track of all the people that own my
>ferrets, the name of the ferrets, etc?  Why would I offer them...
 
My Reply: I do the same thing.  I don't ship my shelter ferrets either.  I
get calls at all hours of the day and night, and have taken so many days off
to take sick ferrets to the vet, or take care of them at home that I have
lost track.  But I also don't cause the ferrets in my care undue stress by
taking them into a crowded show hall full of strange noises and smells and
people.
 
>Some have suggested to me that you were angry at the sales of others and
>the lower amout of your sales.  That got me thinking.  If this no sales or
>adoptions rule is implimented to your shows, you will lose the breeders
>that travel from other states to show, sell and promote their ferrets.
>This will also greatly lessen your competition in sales and in the breeder
>classes in the show ring - you being a breeder and all.  Why would a buyer
>go states away to purchase a ferret from me when they can go to you?
>Eliminate the competition - increase your ferret sales.  Sounds logical!
 
My reply: Again, you have misinformation.  Or maybe I am angry over the lost
sales of the kits that I have never bred.  Uh huh.  The absurdity of this
comment isn't even worth replying further.  You have blown your entire
argument by not checking your facts or arbitrarily making up fictitious
information about me.  Better get better sources to learn from next time.
 
>Well, goodie for you.  Did you take into account the hobby breeders, out of
>state people, and people looking to buy ferrets that won't attend because
>of the rule?
 
My reply: Considering that we only had two people selling ferrets last year,
and neither sold many, it is safe to assume that it won't really affect us
much.  These same people however sold lots of the other merchandise they had
for sale, and the one that still lives within a 800 mile radius has already
placed a deposit on table space for this years show, even though they know
they can't bring ferrets to sell.  People don't come to our show to buy
ferrets.  They do come with lots of money to buy other things though.
 
>You being a breeder and all - did you attribute to the "mess" the breeders
>left behind?  Do owners of alter ferrets not leave a mess?  I guess whole
>ferrets are messier than alter ferrets?  Maybe alter ferrets don't poop as
>much.  We don't have this problem in my state or surrounding states.  We
>also start the vet checks very early so every ferret can individually be
>checked.  Also in my area, all exhibotors clean up after themselves...
 
My reply: Again, check your facts.  I don't breed.  Find another way to
defend yourself- one that is based on truth.  Our vet check started at
7:00am.  I'm not asking my vets and techs to be there earlier than that.  We
had no problems, and the only time we got backlogged was when the two
breeders came in.  Every ferret that comes through the door is checked
individually.  We turned away several for not having proper proof of
vaccination.  The exhibitors cleaned up after themselves.  The breeders did
not.  The kits threw food and litter all over, much of it landing outside
that cage and all over the place.  And by the way, the money our club raises
goes to support ferret shelters all over the country, not into my wallet.
 
>So, while you are off socializing, judging, helping with the show, and
>everything else, who is watching your ferrets?!?  Are they unattended?  I
>also give FREE ferret awareness classes at local pet stores!...
 
I'll get out your halo.  Do you really think you are the only person that
does education for free?  Takes their own time and money to do it?  I do pet
store education and awareness days, as well as talking to people that vets
refer to me about ferret care.  Many of the poeple on this list do it as
well.  My husband watches out for the ferrets at shows while I am busy with
other ferret owners.  I also take turns with friends that I sit with at
shows watching each others ferrets when needed.  Sounds like you had better
get your facts straight before you post anything about me again.  You
obviously have an awful lot of misinformation.
 
-Anne
[Posted in FML issue 2223]