I have just read an article which was published in The Baltimore Sun on June
5, 1997 by staff writer Kevin Cowherd titled "Let's Ferret out the truth
about pets." In this article Mr. Cowherd refers to ferret owners as dim
witted among other things.  He also does a grave disservice to the domestic
ferret as a whole.  I encourage any interested persons to check out the
article at url http://www.sunspot.net
 
Once there scroll down to columnists-- click on Kevin Cowherd and then
scroll down to 6/5/97
 
after you are done reading why not email ed hewitt? at [log in to unmask]
 
Mr. Hewitt is The Sun's readership representative... this is my letter to
him:
 
>Mr. Hewitt,
>
>I am sending this post in response to your opinion column dated 6/5/97 by
>Kevin Cowherd titled "Let's Ferret out the truth about pets".  As an opinion
>page Mr. Cowherd has free reign an anything he wants to say -- whether it is
>the domestic ferret or otherwise.  My point of writing comes from the
>perspective of being a volunteer for a shelter which has had to open
>specifically to deal with the domestic ferret populous in the state of New
>Hampshire.  Your article was featured on a local newspaper page of the Keene
>Sentinel.  It was not in an opinion format, and will most likely cause
>another influx of unwanted ferrets into an already burdened specialty
>shelter, which coincidentally gets little or no support from the local
>community.
>
>It is certainly a tragedy that the retail market has targeted yet another
>pet similar to cats and dogs which can be abused and used for the monetary
>gain of others.
>
>However this is not the fault of the domestic ferret.  Why does your writer,
>Mr. Cowherd, not address the REAL issues.  Ferrets are being exploited by
>the retail industries.  Altered at a far younger age then their counterpart
>canine and feline companion animals they are most certainly sicklier than
>the previously mentioned.  Again all for the gain of the mills and the
>retail pet stores.  However, the point that should be taken is that this
>mass marketing of ferrets should be halted.  Slighting those who own ferrets
>by referring to them as dim witted, as your writer does, is not constructive
>or acceptable.  Mr. Cowherd has done a large community a grave injustice in
>passing his judgment upon the ferret owning community and I feel owes them
>all an apology as does The Baltimore Sun.
>
>Why should the ferrets suffer further degradation at the hands of your
>writer than it already does due to ignorance and lack of education?  I am
>eager to hear what your publication will offer to do to ammend it's poor
>taste and judgement on behalf of the domestic ferret.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Alicia Drakiotes
>ferret owner and shelter volunteer
>Marlborough, New Hampshire
[Posted in FML issue 1985]