Hi all:
Okay, so I read a couple of posts that tickled me the wrong way about the
Spokane situation at first. As anyone that knows me knows, I am pretty easy
to get along with and try not to get in the path of flames. I feel that a
few words need to be said, in any case.
At first I was not pleased that people were questioning what dollars were to
go toward the murdered ferrets and to past ferrets. Then I was a bit tiffed
that someone decided to challenge why Jean was breeding ferrets when she
wasn't independently wealthy. But I sat back and thought about it (some
good advice for everyone) and sure, I can see where the questions were
coming from. They were well posed and thought out. I considered them.
Here's my reply.
First off, the fact that there were several thousand dollars of vet bills
prior to this incident was stated *from the beginning*. Nobody was trying
to collect money to pay off this bill. What was stated (and I went to the
web site and double checked) is that due to the outstanding bill, vets were
denying Jean medical care due to this balance, and funds were absolutely
necessary up front to care for these suffering ferrets. The outstanding vet
bill is still there and will remain there--the money that was asked for was
to treat THESE ferrets. The person who posted about this issue did so in a
very diplomatic way, however, and I have no grudge. Just trying to offer my
view.
Furthermore, I can only imagine what it must have cost to get treatment for
just these suffering ferrets. Sure, we don't have an exact figure, but I'd
bet that Jean would disclose this to clear up the situation. Remember
folks, Jean is not on the internet, so she can't speak for herself. And
I'll bet that the cost to treat these ferrets will make the outstanding bill
seem like the cost of a cup of coffee.
Next, about the "why is this woman breeding anyway" question. The reason
that I still felt I had to reply to this is this: most of us don't know
Jean. But a few reputable people on the FML do, and they have attested that
this woman is fully capable of caring for these animals. For heaven's sake,
she's got ferrets that lived to be 17 years old! "Backyard breeder" is
quite a harsh word. There are quite a few breeders that subscribe to the
FML that are not "commercial" but I would never dare call them "backyard
breeders!" And just ask any one of them what kind of outstanding vet bill
they have. Perhaps it's not $2000, but I know some that have that much. We
don't know why Jean has this high of a bill. Maybe she had four or five
major surgeries in the past few months and she never had an outstanding bill
before....WE DON'T KNOW. I'll say this upfront...currently the Pennsylvania
Ferret Rescue Association has $540 in outstanding vet bills, and we have two
very much needed surgeries coming up --one insulinoma and one adrenal. Our
vet almost was not going to allow us to have the first surgery done until
the bill was paid. Are you saying that the PFRA should shut our doors
because we can't pay our bills as they are incurred? Uh-Oh...if that's the
case 99% of the shelters in the country are about to be shut down...
Asking questions is not a bad thing. This post was in no way a flame. It's
my views, in response to those of others. But my bottom line on the issue
is this: Let's not jump to conclusions. The reputable organizations that
are out there helping Jean out can take care of any questionable practices
that are going on. We were involved because we are a loving community of
ferret owners who could help out NOT Jean, but sick and suffering ferrets.
I wouldn't have cared if the ferrets were *owned* by the psychopath that did
this in the first place...I'd still support helping out these *ferrets*.
Wouldn't you?
Feel free to e-mail me on this or any matter :-).
Kymberlie Becker Barone
Director, Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association
"Forget Puppy Love...There's nothing Greater than Ferret Love!" TM
http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/ferretlady
[Posted in FML issue 2148]
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