Okay, I have gotten quite a few responses via email, and I would just like to thank everyone for being civil, I appreciate it. I also appreciate the ones who decided to be slightly condescending doing it on the FML rather than emailing me. I DO understand why some people would be private, small time breeders, that was not the issue. The problem I have is with those who run shelters and breed at the same time. Like one person said, they are taking in and putting out, that IS hypocritical. For those who got a little bugged by what I said, I wonder why you take this all so personally? As for the MF boycott, sure it is a great idea, and I would love to see it work--who says we can't get rid of pet stores completely at some point in the moral future!, but as a realist, all I have to do is look at the lengthy boycott PETA has been attempting to inflict on Proctor and Gamble, and that doesn't seem to really have accomplished much.(but that's how revolutions occur, a few hard-headed, determined souls plugging away) I personally have read so many horror stories about MF that I don't know how anyone can defend them. As for animals in labs, that will probably never end, though it is getting better, and there really aren't that many being used for cosmetics and stupid things like that, but last I knew, even the vet and vet tech programs use animals for their testing procedures so the students can learn. How humane is that for the animals used, but how many animals is it saving? Why bother to hash these issues out on the FML anyway? People have strong opinions that most likely will not be changed. I just wish certain people could avoid the temptation to insult and condescend when they reply to each little sentence and word in a person's post. Thanks for letting me rant. I'm going back to petting the cute little fuzzy curled up in my lap--she's wondering why I can't type one handed so I can pet her with the other. debbi, Molly the cuddler, and Merlin the destructor [Posted in FML issue 2960]