I wrote a PR person in Verizon Wireless and here is her response back
to me.
 
Hi Mary:
 
I told marketing I would get back to you myself on the ferret commercial
since you wrote me -- I didn't want you to think I just passed you along.
 
Please recognize that the animal used in the commercial is not real --
it is a puppet so every intent was made to respect the rights of real
animals.  And, the commercial is humorous -- the ferret comes off a lot
smarter than the human who has nothing better to do with his time than
to tease a ferret.
 
There was never any intent to demonize ferrets.  In fact, just the
opposite is true.  Even though what the ferret owner did was very stupid,
he is obviously a ferret lover or he would not have had one.  If you
notice, the ferret isn't in a cage, he is sitting on top of the table
with seemingly free range throughout the house.  This guy loves his pet,
he's just young and foolish.
 
Please let your ferret loving friends know we had absolutely no intention
of offending them or any pet lover with the commercial.
 
Mary and The 10 Munchkins
[Posted in FML issue 3873]