Just wanted to give my input on the specific questions about things reported by the PETA investigator based on my own observations & hands-on experience from another breeder rescue many of us recall. The questions asked: >1. They claim that the ferrets eyes were so infected that it looked >like they'd exploded. Is this even possible? ***We experienced eye infections in eyes that had not yet opened. When this happens, you must carefully make a small opening in the eye slit to relieve the pressure and express the infection from the eye. Our experience was that the slit re-sealed itself & we had no further problems. If we had not taken action, I can only imagine an eventual rupture. >2. According to the notes, the ferrets were altered and descented with >the same dull razor blade. If the blade was indeed dull, how could it >have been used to perform surgery after surgery? It was also said that >the blade was handleless. If that were true, wouldn't the "surgeons" >constantly be cutting themselves? The investigator claimed that vets >weren't used to perform surgical procedures, that they were always >done by lay persons. I'm certain that this is illegal. ***I've seen many vets use just the blade for surgical procedures. The end that would normally slip into the scalpel "handle" is not sharp. >3. The temperature was purported to be 99DGF, on PETA's website, while >the Associated Press article cited the temperature as 110 degrees >fahrenheit. In either case, wouldn't all of the 6000 ferrets be dead >of heatstroke by now? ***not necessarily - I'm sure there would have been a number if losses though. The ferrets at the "other breeder rescue" were outside all year round - there were 100 degree days in the summer & sub-zero days in the winter. Some died from the heat, some died from the cold, and somehow, many managed to survive. Jerri Carel The Ferret Haven [Posted in FML 7177]