Hello All,
 
Well, I got a rather disturbing email from someone on this list who seems
to have completely misunderstood my intent yesterday.  So I want to make a
couple of additional comments.
 
>I would ask you to please chill when slamming those of us who help ferrets
>but have no formal education relating to ferrets.  The main reason for this
>is there is no place to get a formal education on ferrets.
 
Well, if slamming means questioning the source of the information, then so
be it.  And questioning an individual poster seems to be stretched into
slamming all lay ferret care givers.  Now why in the hell would I do that
when I am one?
 
I never ever take anything information like this (Bob Church's post) at
face value and I don't feel anyone else should either.  Just as everyone
should question all information on this forum.  I did question Bob's FORMAL
training only because he seems intent on putting himself forth as a trained
animal specialist of some kind.  And after what I have seen of his listed
work on the school web page, I just have to wonder about it.  That is my
problem with his posts, and always has been.  Bob has a tendency to come
off as an expert, i.e. like a vet, and I think everyone should be fully
aware of the training, of whatever kind, they are taking advice from.  And
I agree with what was privately said to me that even vets can be wrong.
Which is why I am even more cautious with "untrained" lay people.
 
But my main problem, as I responded to privately, is that I felt Bob Church
gave some inaccurate and possibly dangerous advice.
 
The writer of the private email seemed to question my credentials after
trotting out his own experience.  Well, that is fair.
 
I have owned animals since the age 5.  I started sitting in on vet
procedures during high school and considered becoming a vet.  I decided
that I could not do it, because I didn't feel I could handle it
emotionally.  I have owned dogs, cats, ferrets, exotic fish, reptiles and
horses.  For every animal I have owned, I have gone to great lengths to
educate myself, and also to be closely involved with vet care, including
operations.  I have read many many vet texts on various subjects.  I have
found research for vets to help out my own animals.  My vet in Houston,
who went to specialization for exotics after her regular vet training,
strongly encouraged me to go to vet school.  If I sound smug, I don't
mean to.  But I do work with animals extremely well.  Well enough that my
current vet doesn't even bother the techs when I come in, I am better at it
than they are, when it comes to ferts.
 
I started a ferret club in Houston that works with 5 shelters and a lot of
local vets.  One of the vets trains other vets in ferret care in courses.
He taught us a lot by giving us slide classes that he gave vets.
 
I own 29 of the little monsters right now.  5 cats.  I have owned ferrets
since 1995 and been on this list since 1996, albeit it was under my married
name Margaret Zick.
 
I am not an expert, nor do I wish anyone to take me as one.  My ego is not
so large that I call myself any kind of eternal entity.  I will gladly say
and have, when I make mistakes.
 
Bob Church has some great information.  But I also know, first hand, that
his info is often considered behind the times at best, from some rather
important "names." That is, from well respected ferret vets, breeders,
shelters, etc.  Which can be just fine for more inexperienced owners.
 
He helps a lot of folks.  But just say my 1970's hippie upbringing keeps
cautioning me to say "don't trust anyone." And basically, I learned to
operate that way owning horses.  You want to see all kinds of theories all
over the place, read up on horse care.  I had a wonderful horse trainer
tell me once not to listen to anything until you heard it from at least
three completely different, independent sources.  I have often repeated
that on this list.  I just want everyone to be extremely careful when
taking advice on care FROM ANYONE AT ALL.  And that goes for questioning
your vet as well.
 
Mo Maggie and the Mob of Tie Dye Ferts "Hey man, look at all the colors"
[Posted in FML issue 3028]