Yesterday: From: Danee DeVore <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Choices "In his reply to me, Scott Sanfilippo said that TFS was not a profitable business. It seemed odd to me that someone would keep a business going for 10 years that was not profitable. So, I checked the company website - not TFS site, but the NEEPS site. http://www.neeps-inc.com/about.htm According to the website, NEEPS is a hugely successful company, doing over 5 million dollars worth of business in 2003, and expanding rapidly . Moreover, they claim the story of their success is taught in business seminars and classrooms. Now, a business has overhead, and so I am sure that Joe and Steve are not able to drive Bentleys and Rolls Royces, at least not yet. However, they are obviously either grossly exaggerating their success on the company site, or else they are turning a profit. And, when you have revenues of over 5 million a year, a few $500.00 and $1,000.00 sponsorships are just a drop in the bucket, especially when they are also a tax write off." Ahhhh......BUT You FAILED to mention that the Ferret Store has two divisions, One of which is the Ferret Store, the other is an internet design firm called Solid Cactus. The profits they talk about on the Web page includes both divisions. While the Solid Cactus Internet design firm has really taken off (because the internet has grown-therefore all internet based companies have grown-Check out the Stock Market) the Ferret Store is just a business just basically plugs along. (Pet Trade has not gone up that much in the stock market). Don't leave out 1/2 details just to push your side. And they give away more then just a few $500-$1000 donations. This sounds more like sour grapes to me then anything. You can't go slamming a company then expect them to give you money...........HELLO. Ferret Store has made just as much headway in this issue over snacks. They have two areas now, the recommended snack area and the other snacks. Just about the same amount of head way as the Ferret Depot. And the Ferret Depot has known about this issue alot longer then the Ferret Store. They attended the Symposium. So there should be no more debate at this time. If a company wants to do the most honorable thing, like everyone is claiming the FD is doing, then remove all the snacks right now. That shows caring and directing an issue like everyone is saying Ferret Store is not doing. Give the Consumers some credit people. You are assuming all consumers are not able to make choices for their ferrets, there for we must remove all those products and slap them on the hands or send them to the corner. If given the education, people are able to make the choices for their ferrets and/or pets. If they choose not to take the advise, what are we going to do. Stand in their homes and make sure they don't feed ice cream, raisins or Ring Dings to their pets also. There are people out there that know an animal has to be fed in order to survive, but still abuse and neglect still exist. Do something about that, instead of harping on the snack issue. Get out the education and the people will read. Marguerite Ebay Sales to Benefit TinyPrints Ferret Rescue Medical Fund http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZalohaferrets TinyPrints Ferret Rescue PetFinder Web Page http://www.tinyprintsontheheart.petfinder.org TinyPrints Ferret Rescue Store http://www.tinyprintsontheheart.com/onlinestore.htm [Posted in FML issue 4889]