An anonymous poster was "disturbed" by my post and chastised me for
expressing my views. Hmmm, the anonymous poster admitted to never have
fed live, but "understands" the food chain, uhuh. Anonymous claims not
to be able themself to kill a live animal, but that said food item
should be humanely killed first. Those that have never done a thing
or could bring themselves to do a thing shouldn't be admonishing those
who HAVE.

The simple fact is that ferrets are perfectly capable of "humanely"
dispatching whole prey. Like any healthy predator, once they learn the
technique (this learning process doesn't take very long - many kibble
crunchers evince exactly the right technique for dispatching prey as
can be seen when they pounce upon, chomp and shake a small stuffed
toy or a simple terry towel); the "food item" is dispatched quickly
and cleanly within mere split seconds - the prey does not linger for
minutes gasping for nonexistent oxygen as in a "humane" CO2 chamber:
nor does the prey remain alive but paralyzed after "humane" cervical
separation; certainly the prey does not keep kicking and trying to move
after a "humane" stunning blow to the head; no, instead the ferret's
jaws fit neatly around the throat of the prey and with the strength of
a medium sized dog, the ferret's jaws snap shut, a violent shake of the
head and the prey hardly emits a cry as it is efficiently humanely,
naturally dispatched.

My post is not so much about kibble vs natural as some would like to
allude - but rather a post against other people claiming to be "animal
rights advocates" imposing THEIR ideals upon OTHER pet owners just
because they don't approve of a particular method!

In this instance it just happens to be regarding the process of feeding
live prey to carnivorous animals and Maren went on to say that simply
RAISING animals AS prey was cruel and barbaric! No where have I seen a
response to my query about what is so barbaric about offering the prey
a clean, healthy enriched place to breed, play and grow to feeding
size. Neither have I seen a reply to my query about how humanely
dispatched were the animals contributing their pieces and parts to the
kibble manufacturer. No - instead I get chastised for speaking against
the warm and fuzzy do good crew that wants to create a LAW to force
other people to do what they do for their pets!

I happen to also believe that ferrets are happiest and healthiest being
allowed to roam free 24/7 through the home, while other folks think
keeping them caged most of the time is perfectly fine and some believe
in keeping the ferrets in outdoor enclosures. What kind of outcry would
there be if "animal rights advocates" advocated that ALL ferrets MUST
be kept in cages? Or turn it around and they got laws passed to keep
ALL ferrets in outdoor enclosures (after all it seems to be proven that
natural daylight cycles are healthiest for ferrets). Would YOU even be
able to keep your ferret if it HAD to be contained within an OUTDOOR
enclosure of "X" cubic feet with "X" levels and "X" sleeping boxes PER
ferret?

Most states already have laws regarding specific vaccinations for
ferrets - Rabies being foremost on that list and look at the issues
THOSE laws create for ferret owners! But someone somewhere decided
ferrets like dogs and cats just HAD to have a rabies vaccine EVERY year
and a LAW was passed. Is it a viable LAW? That depends upon where you
live doesn't it? BUT since a Rabies vaccination is good for three to 5
years - why do we have to get one EVERY year and put our companions at
risk? BECAUSE its the LAW!

Some laws OUGHTN'T BE law! Telling whole prey/live prey feeders what
they can and cannot feed their carnivore companion is just ONE of those
laws that ought NOT to be placed into effect!

Now if Maren's group wants to outline housing and care requirements for
feeder animals that may be a better avenue to take. Although I'm fairly
certain that quite a number of laws are already in effect for the
proper containment and housekeeping of feeder animals. There certainly
are requirements outlined for raising and keeping of laboratory
animals. And many laws already regarding the housing requirements of
farm animals.

As I've stated MANY times before (and likely will again) what YOU
choose to feed YOUR ferrets is YOUR choice - yes, I have been outspoken
regarding the vitality natural feeding offers ferrets and the problems
kibbles harbor - but I'm not going about trying to create a LAW to
FORCE others to feed HOW and WHAT I choose to feed!

Regards,
Kim

[Posted in FML 6461]