I looked at the pages that were supposed to be so BAD about Marshall Farms..And its a bunch of Extremist Animal Rights BS..I never believe anything the HSUS ever says since they are against ALL animal breeding or even the keeping of cats and dogs..and often make up lies about breeders in an attempt to force them out of business... I often figure its just people that are jealous cause they can't make a living with animal related businesses, thus they are out to make sure noone else does either..Pity that, since it hurts the good breeders as well as the ones people try to make out as bad. The anti-breeder thing often gets out of hand. But I'm glad there are people that do still breed ferrets or there wouldn't be any as pets and life would be a whole lot less interesting. I've nothing at all against Marshall ferrets, since the 2nd ferret I had was one and he was a perfect gentleman and the most sweet and gentle ferret I ever knew. As for research animals, I feel they are serving a noble purpose and as long as their pain is kept to a minimum and the research is saving human lives, then they should continue. Besides, from what I understand, the bloodlines raised for labs are DIFFERENT then the pet bloodlines, which are raised for temperment...I've heard the lab bred stock is somewhat more 'agressive'.. Not to mention that if Marshall quit breeding ferrets for labs, someone else would breed them instead...At least they are being bred by a place that does care enough about their proper diet, breeding for proper pet temperments and such, since most the ferrets from there are big, healthy and with wonderful temperments. Someday, when CA legalizes the little buggers, I've already offered to adopt one of Marshall's 'old breeders' for them, so it will take the burden of an unproductive breeder off their hands..I'd love to even start a rescue for placing old breeders from ferret breeders in new homes...An old folks home for ferrets? Hmmm.... [Posted in FML issue 2221]