>From:    tim fowler <[log in to unmask]>
>
>I have to ask...Why?  Why dye your ferrets fur, for what possible purpose
>would a sane and rational ferret keeper decide to change its fur colour?
>Is it to humiliate your pet?  No.  Is it to make you look better?  I
>doubt it.  Then why.  Please enlighten me, as i am perfectly happy with
>me albino's and polecat ferrets.
 
well, as has already been mentioned in this thread, it helps simplify
things when you have two who look VERY similar, if you need to be able to
tell them apart when half-asleep or in a hurry (one needs meds, one can't
be caged with a certain group, etc).
 
but other than that reason, my response is, why not?  provided you dont'
use a chemical/toxic dye, the ferret's not likely to mind (aren't they
mostly colourblind, anyway?) and if it makes the owner happy, what's the
harm?
 
i mean, there's no real "purpose" to me dyeing my hair blue, or putting
leopard spots on it, or the current blue-on-white spiral, or anything
else, as far as an actual *need* goes--but it makes me happy.
 
if it's not permanent, and it doesn't hurt the ferret, to each his own,
IMO.  personally, i think it's bloody weird to put clothes on ferrets.
in fact, most of my ferrets would probably mind that more than having dye
brushed into their coats.
 
if i had a perfectly good fur coat, i wouldn't want to wear goofy looking,
confining fabric, but i don't think it *hurts* anything, and it amuses the
humans.
 
ferrets like to amuse their humans, haven't you noticed?
 
if i ever end up with a large number of albinos, i may well have to
rename my kids the Crayola Crew or something. ;)
 
-kat-
 
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        \(_  \(_   ferrets may nip, but people just suck.
[Posted in FML issue 3730]