I was reading today and the post asking questions about the conditions of breeding at marshall's and I decided to reply. Everyhting that I have heard and learned doing research about marshall's is negative. They are the puppy-mill monopoly of the ferret world. Actually they disgust me. Now, mabey I am not well informed, I acknowledge that, so if anyone has proof otherwise I would love to hear it. It absolutly breaks my heart to think of all of these defensless little kits being shipped cross country in sometimes very, very ill conditions. Marshall's has grown to such mass quantities that they have eliminated every ounce of individuality. Kits that do not sell in pet stores and that get too big to sell are not given to shelters, they are only seen as dollar signs, not lives, and they are returned only to be killed for a refund. Considering how massive marshell's is and that it is almost the only breeder used in big chain stores all over the U.S.- think of how many kits are born everyday only to be returned and killed? I for one would like to know the exact statistics! Like I said, marshall's pretty much disgusts me. I have five precious fuzzbuts, all of which have their marshall's tattoos. Two came into my life through shelters, one out of a horrible animal cruelty situation, and yes, two are from the pet store. I cringe at the thought of supporting this horrible industry, but while buying supplies, twice this had got me, I pass by the ferret cages and was picked out by them mind you, not vice vers, and I looked at those beautiful tiny faces and bought them for fear of them not being bought by someone else and being returned to the place where they never come back from. Those kits at the pet store need rescuing too, I say to myself. But while rescuing them I'm inviting the devil to increase this buisness. And this is what it is a buisness, not lives from whom God created. (sickening) I do not know, mabey I am just a hipocrit. But I do know that I severely do not aprove of anything having to do with marshall's, and if I could remove my babie's tattoos I would. I adamantly (sp) will not buy ANY marshall's products for my kids, especially their food, as it is really not the healthiest food for them to eat anyhow,(I used mostly Zupreem). So, anyway, my response is that it is probably impossible to stop these monsters as individuals, but I'll be damned if I support them! Thanks for listening to my rant, and God bless everyone and their fuzzies. Kelly Jo and her husband, Benjamin, and her wonderful owners, Simeon, Rueben, Charlie, Clover, and Binky Bear......XOXOXOXO [Posted in FML issue 4178]