Hi all: Okay, so I read a couple of posts that tickled me the wrong way about the Spokane situation at first. As anyone that knows me knows, I am pretty easy to get along with and try not to get in the path of flames. I feel that a few words need to be said, in any case. At first I was not pleased that people were questioning what dollars were to go toward the murdered ferrets and to past ferrets. Then I was a bit tiffed that someone decided to challenge why Jean was breeding ferrets when she wasn't independently wealthy. But I sat back and thought about it (some good advice for everyone) and sure, I can see where the questions were coming from. They were well posed and thought out. I considered them. Here's my reply. First off, the fact that there were several thousand dollars of vet bills prior to this incident was stated *from the beginning*. Nobody was trying to collect money to pay off this bill. What was stated (and I went to the web site and double checked) is that due to the outstanding bill, vets were denying Jean medical care due to this balance, and funds were absolutely necessary up front to care for these suffering ferrets. The outstanding vet bill is still there and will remain there--the money that was asked for was to treat THESE ferrets. The person who posted about this issue did so in a very diplomatic way, however, and I have no grudge. Just trying to offer my view. Furthermore, I can only imagine what it must have cost to get treatment for just these suffering ferrets. Sure, we don't have an exact figure, but I'd bet that Jean would disclose this to clear up the situation. Remember folks, Jean is not on the internet, so she can't speak for herself. And I'll bet that the cost to treat these ferrets will make the outstanding bill seem like the cost of a cup of coffee. Next, about the "why is this woman breeding anyway" question. The reason that I still felt I had to reply to this is this: most of us don't know Jean. But a few reputable people on the FML do, and they have attested that this woman is fully capable of caring for these animals. For heaven's sake, she's got ferrets that lived to be 17 years old! "Backyard breeder" is quite a harsh word. There are quite a few breeders that subscribe to the FML that are not "commercial" but I would never dare call them "backyard breeders!" And just ask any one of them what kind of outstanding vet bill they have. Perhaps it's not $2000, but I know some that have that much. We don't know why Jean has this high of a bill. Maybe she had four or five major surgeries in the past few months and she never had an outstanding bill before....WE DON'T KNOW. I'll say this upfront...currently the Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association has $540 in outstanding vet bills, and we have two very much needed surgeries coming up --one insulinoma and one adrenal. Our vet almost was not going to allow us to have the first surgery done until the bill was paid. Are you saying that the PFRA should shut our doors because we can't pay our bills as they are incurred? Uh-Oh...if that's the case 99% of the shelters in the country are about to be shut down... Asking questions is not a bad thing. This post was in no way a flame. It's my views, in response to those of others. But my bottom line on the issue is this: Let's not jump to conclusions. The reputable organizations that are out there helping Jean out can take care of any questionable practices that are going on. We were involved because we are a loving community of ferret owners who could help out NOT Jean, but sick and suffering ferrets. I wouldn't have cared if the ferrets were *owned* by the psychopath that did this in the first place...I'd still support helping out these *ferrets*. Wouldn't you? Feel free to e-mail me on this or any matter :-). Kymberlie Becker Barone 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 2148]