Okay, I gritted my teeth, I tried, I really did, and I wasn't going to say a word, because I do every time the subject comes up and I'm never sure whether it really makes a difference, but since there are constantly new subscribers and Jim's message was so long and sounded so concerned, I just can't do it -- I gotta say what I gotta say. I personally do not know what percentage of Marshall Farms ferrets go to research, but I wouldn't be surprised at that 10% -- ferrets are not used as much in research as rodents and rabbits, and there are an *awful* lot of MF pets out there in pet stores. Everybody has different feelings on research and I know that there are a *lot* of people on here who believe it's wrong and I respect their opinion. Personally as a member of the medical community (and a sufferer of a currently incurable disease) I see a real need for *medically relevant* research and would not boycott MF on that basis. Please don't flame me -- I completely respect your right to disagree but don't wish to start any arguments -- it's too heated an issue. Just wanted to voice an opposing opinion. That's not my main issue. My main issue is early spay/neuter. I have seen repeatedly on the list a strong concern about it, and understandably so. Surgery at the tender age of 6-8 weeks, *could* seem pretty drastic. But I have spoken with several veterinarians about it, and I have found that, in dogs and cats at least, the vast majority believe that earlier is better -- there is such a problem with overpopulation in this country that spaying and neutering must be encouraged, and neither anyone I've spoken to nor I have seen any evidence that it causes any problems, and it may even be beneficial, as it prevents `accidents' in animals which come into season earlier than the predicted 6 months. In fact, according to a vice-president of the AKC, that organiztion and the AVMA advocate early spay/neuter. Now, obviously, we do not have a problem with ferret overpopulation. But we *do* have a problem with owners who don't know about female ferrets and the dangers of allowing them to stay in heat. Can you *imagine* how many jills would be dying if MF did *not* sell spayed/neutered ferrets? Another consideration -- unneutered males don't exactly smell like roses -- how many males would be dumped out in the country, given to shelters, or just stuck in a garage in a cage and ignored because of the unexpected smell upon maturity? A person who buys a ferret from a breeder is *told* about these things. But we all know that the average pet store worker is *sadly* uneducated about ferrets and very little knowledge gets passed on to the patron. Marshall Farms is not going to go out of business, boycott or no. I submit that if they discontinued their current practice, we would have far more sick and mistreated ferrets than we already do. And none of us wants that. I have always been one of the few firm believers on this list that Marshall Farms gets a very unfair bum wrap here. My opinion may not be popular, but I have it for many good reasons. Besides what I have just mentioned, it is also clear that MF breeds for pet temperment. Now, I've only owned two ferrets, so my experience is limited, but I've heard similar tales -- my MF female is an absolute people-loving sweetheart, my breeder ferret is a mildly neurotic though-still-very-loved hellion who took a *year* to train not to bite and still is not a real people-lover. I've never walked into a pet store and seen a MF kit I didn't love instantly. I've often seen ferrets from breeders and other sources that I wouldn't have the patience to take home. And Marshall Farms, whether we like it or not, has been a *major* vehicle for the popularization of pet ferrets in this country. Due to the sheer numbers they sell, there just wouldn't be anywhere near as many if it weren't for them, and how many of you who have 5, 10, 20, 100 ferrets in your home, shelter, or breeding operation started out with just one or two MF ferrets or at least some other pet store ferret to make you interested? Now, I don't know enough about MF to say it doesn't have it's problems. I'm sure it does. I do know reputable ferret vets, though, who talk to the vet at Marshall Farms on a regular basis. And they've never given an indication that something's amiss there. It is my firm believe that this vandetta that seems to exist against MF is perhaps slightly misguided, and definitely energy that could be better directed. I know for sure from reports that I've heard about conversations with the vet there that they *do* care about their animals and ferrets in general. If you believe their operation is too big to care and all they want is a buck, that's fine, we all have our soapboxes. But nobody seems to be able to offer any concrete evidence against them -- it's all conjecture and hearsay. And I've seen some pretty strong evidence for them, to be honest. So anyway, at the very least, I think it's up to each of us to be educated on the issues and make our own choices as to where to get our little ones. But rather than getting all in a fluster about what may or may not be going on over there that *nobody* seems to be able to prove, couldn't we just spend our energy on an issue that *is* solvable -- education and legalization. We've won Michigan. Obviously it can be done. I say we quit picking on organizations that are on the side of ferrets (whether we agree with them 100% or not) and concentrate on the ones who are definitely *against* them. I'm *really* sorry this was so long, but I just can't seem to sit quietly when all I'm reading is one side of an issue I don't really agree with. Hope I haven't offended anybody -- it's all just my humble opinion. Laura Laura L'Heureux Kupkee U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of `96 [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1074]