Frankly, I have no problem with logical discussions of natural vs. packaged diets for ferrets. I DO have problems with people being so intolerant as to try to bar discussions which may result in thought. I have greater problems, yet, with those who try to speak for all of us. There's not a person here who can do so. Heck, anyone notice how extremely careful Bill is to be a moderator rather than a censor? These tactics have been suggested before: 1. If a post gets you very upset then at least TRY scroll past it, unless it is a discussion for which you can add some ferret-specific information which doesn't recycle on a weekly basis. You do NOT have to read everything. After I got past the goal of having done so for the first ten years (Done just to be able to mark the anniversary.) I stopped reading every post and I find that a marvelous luxury. 2. If you are posting on a topic which might upset people try to make that obvious in the heading. ---vegetarians who do not like omnivory in humans skip the middle part--- If accepting research food sources: they might have things you don't want in them (as a poster wrote) but they might not. Long ago, as a starving (literally since I was working my way through college) older student I used to get free food animals (dead) at times. These had been raised under conditions which were cleaner and healthier than standard food-level animals because what were needed were certain ORGANS essential to the experiments; no experiments were on the animals themselves. That had to stop because it was found out later that it wasn't allowed even when so very safe, but having had the medical service come down on me multiple times to get food stamps -- which I never did -- because I was undernourished several times to afford books and room, I can honestly say that those meals are VERY fondly remembered. Anyway, the mice used may have been perfectly safe. ----------------------Okay, safe after this bar-------------------------- I was appalled that the NH vet was obviously so unfamiliar with ferrets and with the extensive rabies shedding study work, but still willing to put clap-trap in writing. A mind unwilling to recognize the limits of its education is not one I'd EVER want making health decisions for a critter in our family. Fortunately, that sort of close-minded tendency to open one's mouth before having facts behind what is said is a rare situation in the veterinary community, which may well be why the NYC Health Dept. had to range so far to find anyone saying exactly what they wanted to hear. (Politics over facts? In NYC? Naw....... ;-) ) Hey, NYC Folks, remember that YOUR letter to your council member supporting Kathryn Freed's legislation to legalize ferrets is likely to be THE most important thing you do this year for ferrets. Also get your vets, friends, and relatives in NYC who enjoy your ferrets to write in letters that they adore ferrets. Even if people say that they don't have one, yet, due to the legal squabble but have been PLANNING on one and learning about them for some time the sheer numbers of letters supporting legislation WILL be what turns the tide. If you trust your council member then go ahead and say that you have one or tow or three, since those letters will have even more impact. Check out the website.) It's pretty spooky that people act like they are walking on hot coals so often in NYC, with all the forays by the mayor's appointee's into council territories, the strip searches (just recently of a major character in a hot musical because they thought he MIGHT be someone else) even of some fare jumpers, the shootings, the battlements around the government buildings, etc. Steve and I really ENJOY going into the city and have felt safe there since long before the current administration (though we sure like the cleaned-up Times Square as long as it doesn't become any more garishly clean), but we are appalled at the almost military-state aspects increasingly found here and there in recent years. (Hey, upstate, you listening and chatting with your neighbors about this?) We see the unfounded ferret ban as just one more part of this whole. Might be wrong, but that's how we see it. Hey, if we're wrong then Guilini will fight to HELP ferrets once presented with the facts, but I know people have sent info and I haven't heard a peep, yet. Any idea if or when we'll hear one? (It sure would be a WONDERFUL surprise, wouldn't it? Would you folks upstate who have the vote power to make or break his Senate run like to let him know that you adore ferrets and what he should say? YOU have some REAL POWER to help ferrets since he wants and needs you!!!!!!!!!!) Sukie [Posted in FML issue 2753]