>Date:    Fri, 17 Sep 1999 13:20:15 -0700
>From:    William Killian - Zen and the Art of Ferrets
>         <[log in to unmask]>
>Except that Marshall Ferrets are worth more in the wholesale market, there
>are ranches/wholesalers that do try to sell their ferrets as Marshall
>ferrets to get higher sale prices.  Some do imitate the two dot tattoo.
 
Good point.  Know of any breeders that do this?
 
>The two dots were never a registered trademark or anything so anyone could
>put two dots in the ears of ferrets.
 
Probably wouldn't really be a registerable thing, but everybody <other
breeders> pretty much knows what they use.
 
>If a wholesaler is cheesy enough to fake the dots for a higher sales price
>do you really think they are going to care about tracking the ferrets?  I
>really don't think thats a factor.
 
Another good point!  Can't help but think of how sad that is - not tracking
the genetic lines of the ferrets.  It is the animal that suffers in the
long run - not the breeder that already has cash in hand several years down
the line when the animal is ill.  Only tracking can help "clean up" the
lines.
 
Amy Flemming
[Posted in FML issue 2809]