Pamala/Johan Mommens <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >On our site we wrote that declawing for ferrets should only be done as a >last resort. Since we got so much response on this by ferret lovers, we >decided to change this by "should never be done"... I would like to hear >your opinion about this. IMO anyone who takes the responsibility of caring for an animal should take it as it comes - neutering being the only exception. Animals are not possessions to be moulded to our own way we think they should look or behave i.e. ear cropping, de-clawing, de-scenting, de-barking etc. I can't see that de-clawing an animal can benefit it in anyway, in the case of a ferret it is nothing short of mutilation. Ferret owners that insist on this barbaric operation being carried out are not fit to own any animal - they should stick to stuffed toys, at least they won't scratch furniture and dig holes in the carpet. -- Sheila Bolton Ferret Welfare. Author of "All about your Ferret" - Ringpress ISBN 1-86054-171-2 (UK) Barron's ISBN 0-7641-1189-2 (USA & Canada) Membership Secretary & Editor of The National Ferret Welfare Society. Web Site: www.btinternet.com/~sheila/ferrets.htm last update 26 Jan 2000 Waiting at Rainbow Bridge: Jill, Deanna Troy, Cameron, Carnath, Button, Bill, Bobby, Jasper, Inga, Holly & Fergle The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of the NFWS. [Posted in FML issue 2950]