Howard Davis comments: ("Marshall Farms" -- #1305) <A number of questionable statements have been made here recently> Yes, they have. Come on, Mr. Davis, you *must* realize by now that not everyone with a MF ferret wears a black hat. Lately, every time I read those two horrible words, "Marshall Farms," I wince, knowing that World War III is on the way. Alright -- your point is taken -- I own MF and am therefore a killer of baby ferrets. Now that we have that issue settled... I'm willing to change my murderous ways, but the boycott doesn't seem very realistic to me. Even if you were able to post your views on the front door of every pet store in the U.S. and Canada, some people would still buy MF ferrets. Supply goes up, price goes down, and euthanasia is still practiced by Marshall Farms because it's cheaper than alternatives. Back to square one. Emotional appeal aside, the issue is fundamentally a financial one. To atone for past sins, this reformed ferret baby killer would be willing to pay ... say ... another $50US for each future MF ferret purchased if assured that the extra money supported decrepit MF ferrets. If all of us were willing to do the same, it might be enough to induce a policy change at you-know-where. It's a small enough sacrifice, I reckon, though it's unfair that the college kids and the poor would do more than their share of sacrificing. How would one implement such a thing? I don't know if it's possible. Who decides when a particular ferret has reached its natural end? I don't know that either. I *do* know, however, that I am unwilling to compromise medical research. Animals suffer so that we suffer less. Agreed, there is no pleasure in that thought, but an overactive conscience can be crippling. [Moderator's note: Discussion of live-reasearch vs. alternative methods are beyond the scope of the list. BIG] Swampp For the record: It was Stan Siatkowski, not the Crandalls, who suggested the "finger down the gullet" anti-biting technique. (The Crandalls helped in other ways). BTW -- How many emails do you think Stan got re:apathetic FMLers? ;) Stan? [Posted in FML issue 1307]