Jen, barnyard animals, (pet-type..i.e. pigs, goats, rabbits, etc.,) and since you mentioned beef, pork, & eggs,.....cattle, Lg,pigs,& chickens, also,are here for our food, clothing, and many, many other by-products, which we take advantage of, without even a passing thought as to where they came from, every day. Ferrets, and their cousins, Ermines, Otters, Skunks, Weasels, & Minks, are usually not considered the same type of "provider" animals as the barnyard bunch. Don`t get me wrong, most all of the `Musky` cousins WERE hunted for their warm coats, and depending on the Geographical location of the hunters, possibly the 1800`s in Alaska or the Great Northwest. That is just a "no proof" example! Those "barnyard Animal" owners, may raise a chicken, or a steer, and name them as `pets`, (turkeys too), and greet them each morning, along with others of each species mentioned, and possibly someday, around Thanksgiving or Christmas, invite them `inside` for `dinner`!! On a working farm, this is not all too uncommon! You said, that they don't lash out at you for eating beef, pork, & eggs, and your leather-products purchases!! Well, apples & oranges, would you lash out at them if you saw them practicing their ancestors beliefs about skins for warmth from ferrets or ermines?? You presented an excellent post, which invites many different opinions, on many different subjects! I have hopefully only put forth my opinion on <one> part of your post;"the flip side"!! Basically, it comes down to how we, as "human beings"(not much of a ++these days), perceive each individual animal`s uses for us as a society! These beliefs constantly change over the decades, thank goodness,, and ferrets & the `musky` relatives, are not used for ferret bacon, or to some degree, mink coats (much less nowadays), and hence, beliefs will continue to change for the better!! e.g.- the Black Footed Ferret`s comeback from near extinction from Prairie Dogs` elimination, the BF Ferret`s main diet!! I hope you receive many `good` posts to your letter!! THAT was the spirit of mine!!! thanks, john r. jdr. [Posted in FML issue 4641]