Anon, I'm sorry you were appalled at our recommendations re spaying in
Australia.
 
You firstly need to understand that this is a very different country when
it comes to ferrets.  We do not get babies already neutered from a pet
shop.  In fact ferrets are seldom available from pet shops, and youngsters
come mainly from the breeder at 12 weeks of age and are entire.
 
Secondly, our Ferret Society is relatively small (about 300 members and
their families), very close-knit and sharing of knowledge and experiences,
so with regular newsletters, meetings, immunization days, races, shows and
Picnic in the Park days, the most current information is readily available
to the members all the time.  The same as in any community, however, we
have the horrid people who will never treat their ferrets with any care no
matter what information is available. *sigh*  But we are not the Ferret
Gestapo and can only inform and advise.
 
Spaying a female when she is 6 months old is major surgery and not to be
taken lightly.  Unlike a "ferret mill" in US where they are neutered en
mass and a certain number of fatalities is to be expected, what does it
matter because nobody really loves them yet.  When it is your much loved
ferret facing the scalpel the risk is considered much more seriously.
Having a jill brought out of season by a vas.hob was always considered the
safer method, and, if timed correctly, is not an unpleasant experience for
her.  We have always had long-lived and happy, healthy ferrets over the
decades of using this method and it was the advent of several cases of
ovarian growths that caused us to reconsider.
 
I hope this goes towards allaying your anxieties about the responsibility
of our Society and hope you understand that whilst I can speak on behalf
of our club, it would be unfair to judge the whole of Australia for these
views.
 
Love & Dooks
Shirley
WAFFS
[Posted in FML issue 3107]