Dear Big and FML members, I apologize that this situation has turned into a three ring circus. Emotions are running high. It is difficult in any bad situation to not let emotions get involved, especially where innocent lives (animals, children...etc) are concerned. There is nothing wrong with sharing our emotions with our families and friends and the FML, to many of us, is a family. We are here to lend support to one another, not to fight, not to sling "mud balls" at one another. I am ashamed to admit that I am just as guilty of participating and for that I apologize. Where the McKay family is concerned, I, personally, do not wish to cause ANY harm. It may seem so by what we are doing and what we have said. I do not. All I wish for is to get these ferrets into a safe and clean environment and give them a chance to experience life as a loved and cherished ferret should and to keep future ferrets from enduring the same fate. If in fact the ferrets are his "lively hood" and means of support, then I realize that we "may" cause a bit of discomfort, however, my tax dollars are there to help support those in need that are elderly and/or ill and cannot physically work to survive. There are thieves and drug dealers that rely on their "business" to live, we see nothing wrong with getting involved in that to stop them from their harmful and destructive "living", in my opinion, this shouldn't be any different. The ferrets shouldn't fall victim to someones livelihood anymore than our children should fall victim to drug dealers or thieves. This is my last post where the "flame war" is concerned, as I feel that my energy is of much better use with the "war" to save these ferrets. For the most part, things were running pretty smoothly when we were all focused helping the ferrets until someone came along and proclaimed a flame war. We all certainly have the right to agree or disagree, but unfortunately, this has turned into a war of personal attacks from name calling to character debates. We all have have our "sides" but fighting amongst ourselves isn't going to accomplish anything. It isn't going to help these ferrets that are relying on us. Besides, in wasting our energy fighting each other, it comes down to the fact that nobody wins. It is a lose/lose situation. Lets put our energy and focus on the ferrets, shall we? With that said, lets fight the fight that needs fighting. Lets allow the FML to remain a family and continue to be our "happy" place. 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 5545]