Why does it seem as though you are sticking up for DM? Have you been out there lately? Do you really know what is going on out there? I have had a group out there twice and both times, the conditions were implorable, the second time being worse than the first. It sounds to me that you agree with the way he is doing things. Should that be true, then we have to wonder if you are going to use the same breeding practices with your animals. Let me specify a few things. Adequate Shelter: consists of shelter to protect the ferrets from the weather elements. What is provided for these ferrets is a sheet metal roof, that lies haphazardly over a structure, doesn't meet in the middle and the sides of the cages are not covered, meaning, the vulnerable ferrets are not protected from the blowing rain and snow. The rain and snow then sits on the fur and the winds cause it to freeze. How comfy for these ferrets eh? I can see how ferrets can freeze to death. Food and Water: yes, frozen mink food and frozen water is always there for the ferrets. They cant consume much of it being frozen and all, but hey, the owner provided something for them huh? It is starting to make sense to me now. It isnt the owners responsibility to make sure the food and water is consumable for these helpless caged animals, just their responsibility to provide it. I guess the ferrets should learn to start a fire to keep the food and water from freezing? Give me a break. Another problem is the over breeding. Tis the season for the ferrets to breed. Knowing that they have more than they can afford to care for and properly care for should prompt them to not allow anymore to breed. Right? Well, they arent avoiding that. They are allowing breeding to go on. Put on your thinking cap. Do some math. He says his females produced large litters. We will say an average of 8 kits. Lets say there are 100 females left and remember, they are still breeding. All the gals give birth to litters of 8, that is 100 times 8...um opps I did it again (as Brittany Spears sings) then the calls go out to the ferret community again....please help poor DM as he has more ferrets than he can handle. It is a vicious cycle with him. He does this alot. It is time to stop this as they are not willing to put a stop to it themselves. Go ahead, stick up for DM and his bad habits, but know this, it isn't going to stop us from closing him down. This inhumane treatment of these ferrets needs to stop and nothing you say will persuade the ferret communtiy to give up. We are tired of this and are now taking action that should have been taken a long time ago. Lora Blaisdell Michigan Ferret Rescue inc. www.miferretrescue.org "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do." -- Helen Keller [Posted in FML 5536]