Ah true, John.  But I suspect that McDonalds knows that using certain
oils for french frying are worse than others and that GM knows that
smaller vehicles use less gas and create fewer emissions which is better
for the environment.  This is not in their best interest from a business
standpoint though because we the consumer expect our fries to taste a
certain way and like driving (it seems) big honkin gigantic off-road
vehicles to the grocery store.  Marshalls ships ferrets too young because
they are irresistibly cute at 6 weeks of age and more people are sucked
into buying them when they are little (I suspect the same reason we get
children as sweet newborns and not 2 year olds!).  They neuter/spay them
early because unfixed pet ferrets would become a nightmare problem.
Let's face it.  Many people can't handle the odor/temperament of fixed
fuzzies, much less a hob/jill in heat!  They ship them with dry kibble
because wet kibble would spoil and/or be all over the kits before they
reached their destination.  What petstore wants to spend the first chunk
of time scrubbing old smushed up food off a pile of squirmy kits?  And
while I understand why they do it, I agree that many of the basic health
problems do go back to the fact that ferrets are shipped out too young.
We certainly need to continue fighting this through appropriate
legislation and consumer education.
 
I just wonder if perhaps we aren't taking the wrong approach to Marshall
Farms.  The whole "attract flies with honey, not vinegar" thing.  As
long as we, the vocal ferret community, continue to badmouth and bash
Marshalls they will logically close their ears and minds to what we have
to say and ask.  I liked Sukie's idea a lot.  A well thought approach
that helps us, the ferret shelters AND Marshalls.
 
Again, I don't know that this is the solution.  I just know that for as
long as I have been playing on the FML (which is over a decade now!) the
same arguments/battles have been foisted against Marshall Farms over and
over again.  None have ever worked.  I just wonder if it is time to
change our tactics and run with diplomacy for a while.  Let us utilize
"The Enemy" to accomplish what we all so desperately want for our babies.
 
Thanks by the way, Mr. Rich, for a well said, calmly stated letter.  I
was worried about getting flamed for suggesting we "fall in with the
enemy", as it were.  Refreshing to have a kind, thoughtful response to
my random musings!  I love it when we play sweetly on here!
 
A
[Posted in FML issue 5315]