Okay folks, how's this for intelligent discussion about Marshall Farms. I've been half-reading the issue, only half since I've heard it for months and months. Someone (Sterling, I think) posted a great post saying that if you think MF needs to change, then organize and make change. Ferrets can't fight for themselves. It does us and ferretdom NO good to bicker back and forth on the FML, whether MF is reading or not. As you all may know, I'm the one doing the new web site for ferret rights (formerly called the State by State page). It takes some time, I'll be honest, to do what I am doing, but it's well worth it to save ferrets' lives. There is NO reason that people interested in doing something about Marshall Farms can't do exactly what I am doing in memory of Kodo. The way it should be done is this. Someone with time (but it can be done even by someone who works FT) and experience in web design, plus a strong interest in the MF issue (preferably a non-biased person; I know there are some of you out there like me that just want to know the truth), should volunteer to do a web site. THIS SITE IS NOT TO POST MF BASHING!! You could get yourselves into trouble that way, guys. So anyway, the volunteer will put a post on FML that anyone interested in finding out exactly what MF is doing, plus is interested in making changes, should e-mail you. Keep a running list of who offers to help. The web site will be the place the volunteers go to find instructions, updates, etc. about the issue. Think of it this way: it's like having a meeting, but only it's on a web site. Make a list of things you want to accomplish; i.e. get someone to be granted a tour of MF. Figure out how to get a study going into the relation of illness/MF ferrets. BTW, don't try to do the study to prove MF is the cause, do an impartial study. That's the only way we can truly help ferrets! Other stuff like that. Organize your efforts. Delegate duties. Everyone needs to stop debating the issue and find out exactly what's going on. This project that I've just suggested shouldn't even just be about MF, it should be to make sure that all commercial breeders are doing things right. By the way, I had a thought on how to do a study. It's not going to be immaculate, but it would work. Figure out how many ferrets you want to study. 50 per breeder? 100 per breeder? Figuring three major breeders (MF, PV, FFF) that's between 150 and 300 ferrets. There is NO way that we can't find 300 people through FML or otherwise, that are EXPERIENCED ferret owners, that would be willing to succumb to ferret math and get a new fuzzbutt or two, all in the name of ferretdom. Someone organize, perhaps the same person that does this thing I'm proposing, to keep in touch with these people over the lives of these ferrets. Send out monthly updates to the folks participating, keep reminding them why they've got these ferrets. Make sure they're all living in similar conditions (I know, it won't be perfect). Eating the same food, MAYBE. Getting regular vet check ups. Etc. IT WOULD WORK, not perfectly but it would work. If anyone is interested in organizing something like this (either the breeder thing, the study, or both) and would like to ask me more about how to go about organizing, please e-mail me and I'd love to tell you how I'm doing this with the rabies page. It's not hard and you'd be doing something much more productive than bickering. It will also make BIG happy cuz it will essentially get the MF debate outta here for good. (Perhaps he'd offer you space for the web site, if he's got it to offer!) I have one more thought that I have to throw out there, feel free to e-mail me in private if you think BIG will kill you for keeping the MF issue alive :-) About the cost of ferrets: I have always believed that the price of ferrets should go up, way up. Think about it. Already the cost of a ferret makes some undesirables unlikely to buy one. But some still get through and pay for a ferret. If raising the cost of a ferret went up to, say, $200 or so (that is, MF raises it's cost, not the pet stores themselves), that would be more money for MF to use for studies, tracking, making their facilities safer, whatever. Don't try to tell me people won't pay it. Pet stores get six or more ferrets in per week, and they are GONE. It might, however, make people think a little harder about getting a ferret before they do it. The more you pay for something, the better you're likely to care for it, right? Well, usually, anyway. I think that this organization I proposed should think hard about this issue, perhaps approach MF with it at some point. I welcome any and all comments/criticisms, just please remember that all that is on my agenda is to do what is best for the ferrets. As always. Kymberlie Becker Director, Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association "Forget Puppy Love...There's nothing Greater than Ferret Love!" TM http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/ferretlady [Posted in FML issue 1997]