Re: little white lies or damaging falsehoods >Lizzi, I understand that you were trying to prevent a potential tragedy >from occurring, but I cannot agree with your methods. Thank you, Linda. I really wanted to respond to Lizzi's post, but I was feeling a bit slow in the verbal department yesterday. (ie. I really didn't want to word something badly.) You captured my feelings as well - "only truth educates." Lizzi, please don't take this as a flame it's not. I understand you were doing what you thought was best and I can't fault anybody for that. But I must say that I found it very disturbing to read about the lies you told. Especially since as I was reading your account of this kid I thought that it seemed like he was purposely trying to push your hot botton - ferrets. Why else would he keep telling you how close he was to buying a ferret.... perhaps it was that horrified look on your face. The real torture wasn't to a ferret, it was to you. I wonder if buying a ferret would have been quickly forgotten if you brushed it off with little visible interest? Re: Ye Old Shelter Debate Usually I say nothing in the shelter debate that periodically arises here. Generally I have little to add and hence my silence. But seeing the recent posts, I'm urged to post. I'm mostly your "average joe" pet owner. Probably more knowledgeable then most, but still pretty average. Our first four ferrets came from pet stores and our fifth came from some one who had the poor ferret dropped off by her in a pillow case. Now... Would I adopt from a shelter? Yes. Would I buy from a pet store? If I couldn't adopt, yes. Would I mind if a shelter talked to me to find out who I am and little about me before adopting an animal to me? Heck no. I'd wonder what kind of shelter they were if they didn't. But - I would resent it if they tried to categorize, quantify, or "score" me on how I would be as a pet owner, especially if they wanted to know details like employment or financial data. That resentment would probably send me to a pet store. You can't "test" someone via questionaires or forms. Talk to them. Person to person. It's the only way you can get an idea if they will **LOVE** and **CARE** for the animal. You can't test or quantify this by any means. You can't tell it by if they are employed at the local 7-11 or a Fortune 500 company. You can't tell it by if they are young or old. Married or single. If they are wearing a black leather jacket or an Armani suit. If you are basing your adoption principles on such things, shame on you. I don't know whether to call you arrogant or ignorant....maybe both is most appropriate. People have love to share and seek companionship. If this is why they have come to you to adopt an animal, then who are you to judge them on things that really don't matter? If they love the animal, they will do WHATEVER they need to in order that the animal stays happy and healthy - and by all means, teach them the care that the animal needs. Anybody truly interested in loving the animal will be interested in its care. -kim, pippi (If you give me raisins, I'll love you!), atlas (snoozing is my life), jinx (love me!), and rosie (Even though I call her "Rosie-rella, Terror of Tiny Town", she is a sweetie!) Kimberly Burkard | _ Everything I needed to know in life, Eastman Kodak Company| _____C .._. I learned from my ferret: Rochester, New York | ____/ \___/ Frolic and dance for joy often, have [log in to unmask] |<____/\_---\_\ no fear or worries, and enjoy life. [Posted in FML issue 2934]