This is in response to Betty's post to Sam regarding breeding. Seldom in recent years have I been moved to respond to posts such as this. But this one..... I don't think you are qualified to make such sweeping judgment on small breeders nor are you qualified to write such a condemnation on so many small breeders, many of whom are shelters or rescues as well. Love of ferrets motivates the breeders I know. Where do you think baby ferrets come from?? Just down conveyor belts at 4 weeks from Marshall Farms & from shelters who work their butts off to save and find homes for the unwanted. I know, I know -- breeders should not breed because there are already too many ferrets needing homes. Never mind that many of us are working to hopefully improve ferrets BECAUSE of all the problems. Let's just get all the small breeders to stop breeding so that no one will have the ability of free choice in choosing a pet. What? Ferrets bred for profit? Heaven forbid such should ever happen to me - am sure I could not live with myself. What? Not making a profit, so why breed? Betty writes in part: >I am deeply saddened to hear of any ferrets passing. But I am angered more >by the use of animals as breeder animals as it perpetuates the idea of >animals for profit, what ever that may be. Why do it in the first place? >And if a breeder is not in it for the money, then why sell them at all? >The debate in this issue could also get ugly as it is an emotional one >indeed. You say yourself that Slinky's death wouldn't stop you from >breeding (ferrets I imagine). It may not be common in the way that she >died, but as was stated before, the risks were considered acceptable. >Again, the question comes to mind, what is a life worth to you, especially >when the risks are considered acceptable. Betty - Lets use an analogy. I don't know how old you are or if you have children or not. If you have not yet had children, then I suggest that you do not breed. If your SO or husband cares anything for you, he will not breed you. Because pregnancy for humans carries risk. And I don't think you would consider the risks acceptable. You could get eclampsia, toxemia, pregnancy induced diabetes, an embolism, ectopic pregnancy, placenta previa, abruptio placenta, and a number of other conditions. Twenty-five percent of all women require a c-section. The baby might have something wrong with it. No, No, don't take the risk. And, of course, I can, like you, make the broad assumption that you would not properly care for your kit, I mean, kid. And since there is no profit in it - why bother?? After all, there are plenty of unwanted children to adopt. It makes me angry to think you might breed. Oh, did you say that?? I don't feel any need whatsoever to justify my breeding to you or anyone else. Last time I checked, this was a free country. However, I will make a few comments. When my youngest was six, we acquired our first ferret and went on from there. She has now graduated college and has married. All of our first ferrets were MF and all, save one, lived to between eight and twelve. It was some years back now that the age started to drop and those of us who had ferrets were seeing problems and a lower life expectancy. I thought long and hard about breeding before committing to the dedication and work it would entail. It was finally a pet store rescue kit, Pepper, who decided me. I knew he would only live to 4 or 5 - then the life expectancy of an MF. I was a little off, My beloved special and wonderful Pepper passed on this past spring. He was 5-1/2 and had been through bilateral adrenal a-symptomatic matastised cancer, cancer of the pancreas and other problems. So, I am breeding ferrets Betty, because I am trying to breed a healthier animal by improved nutrition and other things. I don't know if I can give them a better life, but I am trying. Do you have a problem with that?? I am tired to seeing MF ferrets suffer. None of us really know why, but a whole lot of people are trying to figure it out - including me. And I don't pretend to have any answers. All of my ferrets are pets first. All of my ferrets are well treated and have free roam except when confined with kits or the hobs when in rut - and they are rotated out daily for good exercise & play time. My ferrets sleep with me. My ferrets come before me. And my ferrets are happy and the mothers love their babies and so do I. There is nothing more that life can give me than to participate in a beautiful litter of healthy kits who receive optimum nutrition, care and love. Many of mine are gifted. Many of you here know what that means. When one of my girls is expecting, I go around the clock with her. I set out to try and breed healthy ferrets - so far they are BIG ferrets and I do not know yet about the health. All of my breeders except one are still living. The first ferrets bred are just now reaching middle age and I have not heard of any problems as of yet. But I digress. Pam Troutman has a good idea on putting aside money for vet medical care. I have always had an emergency fund. Last year I had a boon and my fund went to $4,000! Yippee, yeah! Well, in a little over a year, I have spent just under $6,000 on medical care between 3 vets. Do I have a bunch of sick ferrets? No, but I have old-timers and old rescues requiring surgeries. I have had spays, routine physicals, our first c-section, a heart patient that needs to be seen every few weeks, an ulcer patient, ditto, a bite to Jussy's ear caused an infection that has gone on for months and resulted in surgery. And so on and on. My ferrets receive prompt medical care and older ones get complete checkups. My average cost on leaving a vets office is around $300. I also keep a completely stocked "ferret pharmacy" as one of my vets calls it. Have had several emergencies --- oh, and used the fund to acquire two hobs of foreign birth for blood lines, donated to some shelters and loaned money for emergency vet medical care to two of my friends. But I guess in the end -- why bother with all of this at all. You have a mind set and doubtless nothing will change it. Live in ignorance Betty. Nothing is changed unless you try. I am trying and so are a lot of people here far better than me. Meg PS You put your ferrets "at risk" each time they are out playing because you could step on one. Is this an acceptable risk?? Rhetorical question. Don't answer. [Posted in FML issue 2519]