Mr/Ms Annon. wrote:
 
>I cannot understand the fascination with "showing off" your animals.  Do
>you really think the animal enjoys being shown?  Does the animal have a
>choice?  Does the animal care about ribbons?  Think about this.  Undue
>stress results, which is often seen for a few days afterwards when your
>animal is pooping green stress poops.  I ask what benefit does the animal
>get from these shows and events?  NOTHING!...
 
As A Shelter I encourage people that adopt from me to participate in shows,
especially my pre-teen/teen clients.  You want to know why??  Yes some good
comes from it!  Taking an active interest in ferrets hopefully makes it
less likely that the ferret will end up back in the shelter again.  It also
promotes good and regular ferret care.  Not all ferrets mind being out in
crowds.  Some do enjoy it.  It's a day of bonding with their human friend,
being played with, and usually getting treats.  Ferrets that get upset at
being out in crowds and stress obviously shouldn't be out there.  Do they
like the ribbons?  I don't know but my Patch is pretty tickled with his
longest whiskers one.
 
Anon also wrote:
>A ribbon is really not worth the added stress to my ferrets nor the
>possibility of health problems.  I recall everyone being upset over
>someone "showing off" their ferret at a public park in CA-CA land and
>taking a big risk for the ferret.  How is this so much different?
 
Um can't really believe you asked that one.  No wonder you went
anonymously.  It is legal to take ferrets to a show.  It isn't legal to
show off ferrets in California.  I wouldn't stick my big toe over the line
into CaCa land holding one of my babies.  Much less go to a park.
 
Faith
Ferrets R #1 Shelter & Rescue
[Posted in FML issue 3064]