reading the FML for the past few days has made me want to call up sabrina
and switch and ask them to dig another hole.  or maybe i'd delete the FML
for a few days til it all blows over.  it made me think, dare i say
anything at all?
 
i think i must reinforce what sukie said about walking a mile in someone
elses shoes.  i also feel like i need to highlight something that brandie
posted herself about having the ferret community leave a bad taste in her
mouth.
 
some people post to the FML because they actually had the presence of
mind to find the best place to get information on finding the best new
home possible because they can't care for their fuzzies for one reason or
another.  others do it because they figure they'll make a quick sale.  i
think, from what i've read of brandie's posts, she is the former, so i
think we should give her the benefit of the doubt and *help* her.  the
ferret community should be known for *helping*, which it has again and
again (see jen morrison and many other rescues).
 
i know that we want people to understand that ferrets, as with any other
animal companion, need forever homes, and we don't want to encourage the
"i just don't want it anymore", not thinking before buying mentality.
but everytime a well-meaning owner (mind you, i said well-meaning,
speaking to a specific portion of people) posts looking for mature,
experienced help from us as the ferret community and gets flamed first
and helped later, it mars our *helping* reputation.
 
it's a very sensitive issue for owners and shelter moms alike.  there have
been a few cases where i've seen this community come together and try to
help and owner find a way to keep their fuzzies because of the not enough
time issue that can come up.  that's *helping*.  i am not against
reminding a person that owning a ferret is a companion responsibility,
and that people should think twice before getting a ferret.  but i'd
rather have someone post here to find a new knowledgible home for their
ferret because they've found that they aren't a ferret person than to
have them not because we'd flame them, and have the ferret end up with
another owner that may not want it in the end.
 
i'm just asking for a few deep breaths and a moment of constructive
thought before our ferret community members respond to issues like this.
please.
 
andrea and the somerville dynamic duo
lucy & gabe
[Posted in FML issue 3868]