I wish to remain annonymous because frankly I don't want any flaming emails sent to me and I know some of the people being spoken about here. I tend to hold back on the sidelines and not comment but this is something that hits me right in the heart and soul!!! Yes I will agree there are responsible breeders out there and responsible shelters out there but on the other hand there are some that are just as bad at the "backyard" and "mass" breeders that try to call them selves responsible. They should step back from it all and ask themselves why they are sheltering and also breeding under the guise of raising money for the shelter. That is Bull Crap in my mind!! I am sorry and I know there will be some that agree and some that don't and that is fine we are all entitled to our own opinions. If you have cages full of ferrets that are in good health and need homes what is the purpose of breeding? Don't say it is to raise money because there are other ways and you are only bringing more animals into the world that didn't ask to be brought in just like children. Don't try to fool people. Look at why you are doing it....isn't some of this so you can breed the best ferret to show? Yes you people know who I am talking about because I have seen it and I have gone home and cried after seeing a so called "GREAT RESPONSIBLE BREEDER" at a show who is well known push a ferret back onto a concrete floor making it slam down because it bit her. They were frankly nasty ferrets and it was in the breeding and caring. I won't say who but I was so disgusted I had to walk away and cry. I could have reported this woman but she is thought of so highly in the ferret community what good would it have done? The other people who were there and saw it didn't think anything of it and they now shelter and breed from one of this woman's ferrets. I could go and an on and the controversy is like anything else it will be talked about, opinions voiced but nothing is going to change and that is the sad part. So the next time you come out and try to fool people into thinking that you are fundraising by selling even more ferrets think about it.... Yes we need to voice our feelings to the major breeders but until people boycott mass produced ferrets then nothing is going to change so let's try and give the ones that need homes good loving homes instead of bringing more into the world. I didn't know any better when we got our first ferret and he was a Marshall's ferret. I learned alot over the years and since then have adopted many ferrets and gave them loving homes. I care too much for these little beings to bring another store bought ferret into my home. Yes I have voiced my opinion. As far as shelters doing background checks, vet ref, etc etc....let me tell you I know of one shelter personally that gave not one but adopted out, splitting up pairs and trios to people without proper checks and the ferrets lived in horrible conditions only to be returned to the adopter. Yes they came back but what hell did they go through during that time? Checks or no checks, education or no education once they leave the shelter person has no control over what happens and there are just plain stupid people out there taking these animals in....enough said. I will get off my soapbox. Thank you for letting me speak my mind and I am sorry if I upset the boat with anyone and we are all entitled to our own opinions so now let the flaming begin because I am sure it will.... Peace be with you all..... [AD] [Posted in FML issue 5005]