The following is the letter I just sent to The Tonight Show and also Ben
Stiller's agent.  I tried to refrain from making any FML comments on this
situation because ferret people DO tend to overreact when it comes to
ferrets in the media.  However, I do think that the foreseeable damage
to ferret legalization in California necessitated a response.  Whether
or not it makes a difference is another matter.  I tend to believe this
letter, and all the others, will go into the "file" pile.  I'd love to
see someone from the California ferret crew get some time on the show.
We can only hope.
 
Kim
 
                 -----Original Message-----
 From: Kim Schilling
 Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 3:15 PM
 To: [log in to unmask]
 Cc: [log in to unmask]
 Subject: Tell us your thoughts on a particular show/Ben Stiller
 
As the author of Ferrets for Dummies, I was disheartened to see Ben
Stiller on last evening's show.  Up until his recent ferret mishap on
the set of "Along Came Polly", I actually enjoed Mr. Stiller as an actor.
However, he has used his public stature to shed biased and negative
misinformation on one of America's most beloved pets, the domestic
ferret.  The domestic ferret has long been the unfortunate and
undeserving subject of many myths and untruths and, as such, has had a
difficult time gaining the respect and understanding it deserves.  Pet
ferrets in the U.S. number in the millions.  Ferret owners across the
United States have worked long and hard to properly educate the public
and put an end to the ferret's unjust reputation.  Then "Along Came
Ben Stiller" and his boisterous overreaction to his on-the-set ferret
encounter, and the progress of the vast ferret community comes to a
screeching halt.  Most of what Mr. Stiller was spouting off was complete
nonsense and uncalled for.  As representatives of a popular public forum,
you should be well aware of how quickly and easily the words, true or
false, of an admired public figure can impact public opinion and even
reality.  Mr. Stiller's voiced support of California's illogical ban on
ferrets, based mainly on his lack of education, and his exaggerated
appeal to Governor Schwarzenegger to uphold such a ridiculous ban, has
caused considerable and unnecessary damage to the plight of the domestic
ferret.  As such, I believe the responsible thing for you to do is to
allow an educated representative of the ferret community to speak on
behalf of the domestic ferret as a companion pet.
 
As an experienced ferret educator and a longtime owner of 13 ferrets, I
can tell you that the biting ferret is the exception to the rule.  Like
ANY companion pet (dog, cat, bird, rabbit, horse, etc...), a ferret
may bite if it is pushed beyond its stress tolerance.  Humans are no
exception if pushed over the edge.  Mr. Stiller was dealing with a ferret
that was performing in an unnatural environment - bright lights, noise,
bustling atmosphere, strangers, multiple handlers, extended handling,
unstable housing, etc... Jay Leno himself has been bitten by animals
on his own set for the same reasons just mentioned.  Educated people
know that a bite is rarely if ever the fault of the animal.  A bite
from an individual animal does not and should not be viewed as valid
ambassadorship for that breed or species.  There are millions of ferret
owners who will attest that the only encounter they've ever had with a
ferret's mouth is from a loving lick on the nose.
 
I agree that Mr. Stiller has a right to express his own opinion.
However, as a public figure he should also know to display a bit of
self-restraint and use his influence in a more responsible manner.  I
thank you for your time and do hope you'll consider entertaining this
topic again, but this time in favor of the ferret.
 
In strong support of ferret education and legalization in California,
Kim Schilling
Author, Ferrets for Dummies
Director, Animals for Awareness
[Posted in FML issue 4393]