People.. please use your brains. Tis a sad world when we over-react and make ourselves look like less than we are. That is caring and loving our ferrets deeply and trying to educate the public. This is from another post I made today. Im shocked at Alica's and Bob c's statments especially, I mean really. I don't understand two of the largest most respected people in the ferret community acting as such (Pardon me Im being blunt honest). Jennifer is not saying anything anyone else that I know personally (comments about ferrets) hasn't said. If it were to be a stunt I would think that they would use positive stuff.. not bad or what we consider bad. I've had so many people come up and say they stink, they're rats they are so and so... so what. They don't know and don't feel towards them as we do. They don't see them like cats and dogs and that just because they don't know and is unfortunate. BUT, I don't yell at people because of their views, I just try and educate. Now, what upset me and I wrote to them about what the "fur coat" issue from the ladies on the view. That is plain wrong... that's not an opinion but a statement that should never be said against any animal period. I wrote and pretty basically stated that that comment was wrong and if they had animals it would be like saying I want your cat or dog to use for a fur coat or to make a new purse out of. Plain and simple. Ben's problem was the overreacted hype of the bite and subsequent "rabies" shot mainly due to the fact that the ferret would then have to be quarenteend and with the unknown response of CA possibly put to sleep. Obviously the ferret had it's rabies shot. And then the statement made about the Legilzation efforts (being against) in CA. And the fact that they are "evil creatures" That hurt the ferrets period. Not the fact he said they were like rats and stunk. The other stuff, hell let them think the odor present by ferrets stink.. Everyone thinks that the word stink means has a smell anyway and they do, it's just terminology thats all, a word much like a cuss word. I don't use the word stink when describing it.. but it shouldn't be that big of a deal if someone else does. I politely say... not to me I think they smell perfectly nice. Them being ratty like... hell to most people they are. Im not offended by someone saying they're rat like... but calling them rats based on their body structure, they think they belong to the rat family. No offense there because I know they are not. Again, its just un-education and not meant to make people upset. To most people they do look like big rats. Again, I politely say they are of the weasel family not rat. The sh*t about boy cotting all Ben's movies is stupid and childish. It gets us no where. He apologized and that should be enough... Because truly I do not believe he knew it would do any harm. Hell, I hope people know when I say Im sorry if I offended someone they at least try to believe me. Jen hell I don't care if she does she didn't say anything that bad (nothing any of my friends or parents wouldn't say) but that other bitch with the fur coat thing, now that pissed me off. If Jennifer wants to think they are big rats and that they stink.. that is her opinion. All you can do is offer to educate which that won't happen. She has stated she's not an animal person. My sister says the same damn stuff and I don't get on her about it. Her opinion of the ferrets doesn't both me at all. Just because she's not an animal person (winces at the thought of animal hair on her furniture) and thinks they smell (or stink) or are creepy doesn't mean I have a right to put her down for it. Ben, apologized and he realized his statements, especially the one of over-hyping the way the bite was and over-hyping the statement about the Gov. and California's quest for legalization.. That demanded an apology. Not because in his personal opinion ferrets stink. Sorry.. this has gotten a little out of hand and I feel that if these people, even Bob C and Alicia keep these people fired up it WILL do more harm then good. That said.. I wrote letter to each of the ladies on the show explaining my feeling about what they said in regard to they should be fur coats.. and basically how would they feel if I said that about their dog or cats and that's all. Sorry, Im realistic in the fact that I know every person on this earth does not feel the same way I do about these beautiful creatures and that is their opinion. *sigh* I don't personally like what Anniston said..but again I didn't hear it all. But if that's the way she feels fine ... whatever. Who actually should care if that is what she thinks about them based on working with them on a set? We as ferret lovers are easily (almost too) offended when someone says something in disregards for our love of these kids but that doesn't mean we have to blast them for their opinions of them just when their outright blatant carelessness could do the ferrets more harm as in the legalization efforts. I mean the senators and whatnot voting on the bill don't care if they stink or not or look like rats. But they do care about the over-hyping of a bite, and what the governor may be trying to accomplish if anything. Oh and as far as the ferret on the set in Cal ... special rules apply to the use of animals even those that are illegal (Bears, cheetah's, lions, etc., are also illegal) but are given special priledges to use with permission on sets guarding they have animal control/docs on board to deal with any negative outcome be it bites whatever. Gee, time for a xani- let the flames begin Leanne fuzzy mom to 10 beautiful stinky rats and proud of it!!! [Posted in FML issue 4396]