>Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 13:20:15 -0700 >From: William Killian - Zen and the Art of Ferrets > <[log in to unmask]> >Except that Marshall Ferrets are worth more in the wholesale market, there >are ranches/wholesalers that do try to sell their ferrets as Marshall >ferrets to get higher sale prices. Some do imitate the two dot tattoo. Good point. Know of any breeders that do this? >The two dots were never a registered trademark or anything so anyone could >put two dots in the ears of ferrets. Probably wouldn't really be a registerable thing, but everybody <other breeders> pretty much knows what they use. >If a wholesaler is cheesy enough to fake the dots for a higher sales price >do you really think they are going to care about tracking the ferrets? I >really don't think thats a factor. Another good point! Can't help but think of how sad that is - not tracking the genetic lines of the ferrets. It is the animal that suffers in the long run - not the breeder that already has cash in hand several years down the line when the animal is ill. Only tracking can help "clean up" the lines. Amy Flemming [Posted in FML issue 2809]