From: Bob Church <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Mo' Bob C on Vets Good comments on vets. We don't agree 100% on some issues but strongly agree on many areas. We chose to self vaccinate (distemper) for example but some of that is a matter of scale. We have quite a few more ferrets pass through our house with the breeding and the shelter. Some people read into postings what they want to see. I've been demonized by some and anything I or my wife writes is seen as flaming them personally. Even claiming that we do not accept donations has been taken as a sign we are corrupt and aren't running a real shelter. I have no idea how anything you've written would be contorted to be attacking vets. We provide blood donor ferrets to any vet that requests. We provide ferrets for studies such as blood work up when asked. We don't understand how some of these vets make two ends meet they are so generous. >From: "Michael Dutton, DVM, DABVP" <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: vet answers >In the same survey that equates to an average salary of $60,000 per year >for working (on average) 50-55 hours per week with a minimum of 8 years >of college and 16 years in practice. That works out to about $22.00/hour. [...] >The beginning veterinarian starts at $30,000 per year after 8 years of >college and has student debt of approximately $45,000. That averages >$500-600 per month in loan payments for 10 years. That works out to >$11.00/hour. To some folks that will sound like a lot of income. There are legal secretaries around here who make far better money. That entry level is still below entry level for an engineer with just a Bachelors degree. We don't begrudge vets what they need to charge us. >>From: "D.J. and Liz" <[log in to unmask]> >>Subject: ferret is sick?? Hagen cages. >>Well about 2 months ago we suspect he had pneumonia...thanks to >>wonderfull Meg, we battled it by my stealing antibiotics from the animal >>clinic where I work (i was desperate). >I'm sure I'm going to get flamed for this next statement This is support not a flame. I never make it a practice to pretend to be a vet. I "work" with various vets supporting what they do but I nor any other person on this list excluding the vets has gone through the training. I find it quite serious that some one who claims to have been a nurse but not for maybe 15 years is basically practicing medicine and encouraging theft. Dishonesty in this area can lead to the deaths of ferrets. Bad thin. And Mo' Bob and Dr. Dutton... Yes we are fully aware of all implications of self vaccinating distemper we do pretreat and we do have epinephrine on hand. We also live only a few minutes from Dr. Kawasaki and his Old Bridge Veterinary Hospital - we only give shots while he is at the office or available. >From: Linda Iroff <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Shelter in the news >Bev and I are bracing for an onslaught of calls. Joy is bracing for being >called "Ferret-face" by the kids at school... the price of fame. :-) This might be far worse than you are expecting. Our daughter had a lot to go through after she was featured in "Kid City" magazine (attached to PBS) If things do get bad and Joy wants to talk with another kid thats been through it just ask. bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets http://www.zenferret.com/ mailto:[log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1842]