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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 4:10:13 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 10:17:27 GMT -5
I do not agree with how Marshall Farms (and other mills) runs their operation, infact I find it appalling. I do not, by any means, agree with the way *any* pet mill treats their animals. I have read that article (and others) and they bring me to tears, but it's not the ferret they produce that are at fault. Weather or not a person buys from a petstore, M.F. (and other mills) are still going to produce ferrets and in my humble opinion- it's better that the ferrets get homes where they will be nurtured and loved as opposed to rotting away in a petstore cage and never knowing what it's like to experience love and a family. No one asked them if they wanted to be born and the ferrets shouldn't suffer the consequences of the MILLs decision to mass produce ferrets in an unsafe and unhealthy environment. I agree that these mills have to change their ways but boycotting the innocent fuzzies they make is only going to force those fuzzies to suffer, not the company at hand.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 10:21:32 GMT -5
Sorry if I come off as rude... I am just really passionate about it.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 8, 2012 11:32:21 GMT -5
On the other hand(and I KNOW this isn't going to happen), if everyone simply decided to stop buying from pet stores, yes some fuzz would suffer. But they'd stop producing so many. Unfortunately, they will continue to produce them for the labs  |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 12:53:28 GMT -5
I do not agree with how Marshall Farms (and other mills) runs their operation, infact I find it appalling. I do not, by any means, agree with the way *any* pet mill treats their animals. I have read that article (and others) and they bring me to tears, but it's not the ferret they produce that are at fault. Weather or not a person buys from a petstore, M.F. (and other mills) are still going to produce ferrets and in my humble opinion- it's better that the ferrets get homes where they will be nurtured and loved as opposed to rotting away in a petstore cage and never knowing what it's like to experience love and a family. No one asked them if they wanted to be born and the ferrets shouldn't suffer the consequences of the MILLs decision to mass produce ferrets in an unsafe and unhealthy environment. I agree that these mills have to change their ways but boycotting the innocent fuzzies they make is only going to force those fuzzies to suffer, not the company at hand. Yes, this. I don't think anyone, at least on this forum, rescues (and yes, it is rescue, even from a pet store) blindly, not knowing where their baby came, what they suffered, and what countless other ferrets suffered. But Marshall's DOES breed for labs, there's no way boycotting will stop them, when they will always have a market for their "product." I don't like it, but I can't let a baby suffer just because, just like I can't NOT welcome in a dysfunctional older rescue case because he has ... issues (lovely, lovely Hiko). I don't know - it's an intensely personal topic for everyone, I think. You're getting everyone from both sides of the fence, and we all have our good points about it  The one thing I can safely say is that no one here thinks MF, RC, PVF or any other farm/irresponsible byb is a good thing. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 13:41:20 GMT -5
Nothing is produced unless there's a market for it. People want kittens, people want puppies, and people want ferret kits. And it's the ferrets that suffer for it, because their cute "baby" stage is so short. As long as the unaware public continues to purchase tiny kits, tiny kits will keep being bred and altered and shipped. Did the baby ferret at the pet store deserve to have that happen? Of course not... but neither will the babies that will be produced to take that one's place when he's sold. "Saving" a ferret from a pet store is almost always "condemning" another to replace it.  Best thing to do is avoid pet stores (meh) and always be willing to educate other ferret owners or potential owners! |
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Post by rebel135 on Feb 8, 2012 14:21:15 GMT -5
Wether people buy them or not the demand is more for labs and they will keep breeding at the farms pet stock is only secondary and if you can offer a poor soul in a pet shop a home that loves them than do it wether young or old they deserve loving homes.we just welcomed a very sick fuzz into our home he was with us for a very short time but I would do it again if it came up cause the desirve to know they are loved  |
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Post by Sherry on Feb 8, 2012 14:57:54 GMT -5
Don't get me wrong- I'm not saying "you're a bad person if you buy from a pet store". I'm not! I'd have to include myself in there if I did  What it comes down to is a very personal decision that no one has the right to disparage. I do believe if no one bought, numbers bred would be reduced. But like I said- that is not going to happen. And for me, personally, it's very much a "two edged sword". How many of us on here would have discovered the absolute joy that is "ferret", if not for these wee mites in the stores? NOW it's easy enough for me to say- don't buy from the store- adopt from a rescue instead. Which is why I say no one can condemn you, because odds are great they were in the same position of purchasing before you |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 16:50:46 GMT -5
Thank you sunny for : "Marshall's DOES breed for labs, there's no way boycotting will stop them, when they will always have a market for their "product."" when I said that boycotting would do no good, I hadn't thought that some people might not register about the ferrets bred for labs. Even if every person boycotted mills, ferrets would still be mass produced for labs. I also want to say that I agree about buying from a pet store being (essentially) the same as adopting. We know that everyone here has the same objective, raise the healthiest ferrets we can. Not everyone headed into the pet store for a ferret has the knowledge/understanding to do so... I have met quite a few ferrents who are still laboring under the impression that kibble is the best way to go and regular vet visits aren't necessary. A lot of ferrets who go home to such families end up getting put up for adoption as soon as they get ill and I'm willing to bet that for everyone that ends up going up for adoption, at least four more are just left to die. (sorry if I sound jaded but my example is from truth. When I adopted Kahlua I found out she had been living with four cage mates who had all passed away before her previous owner put at least her up for adoption.) Getting back to the point at hand, I want to make note to the O.P. that if you do get a pet store baby, think of the difference you can make in his or her life. When I brought SoCo (the only ferret I've raised since kithood) home from the pet store I was (am) darn determined to hive him the best life possible. I look at Mojito (also adopted) who has Adrenal disease and Insulinoma and I know there is nothing I could've done to change that (he was already an older boy when I adopted him) but when my fiancee let us get a kit, I couldn't help but get the feeling that *I* can make a difference in this little boys life. *I* can make sure that, despite what he may have suffered at the mill, he won't have to suffer ever again. *I* can make sure he has the best diet and vet care. *I* can make sure he won't ever have to know what it feels like to have his human abandon him. I have nothing against breeder ferrets, don't get me wrong... but when someone is buying a breeder ferret they ate putting up serious cash and having to pass the breeders approval. Pet store ferrets don't have a breeder to protect them from being purchased by someone who just wants a cool exotic pet or someone who saw them on sale for $50 and thought they might be fun. Breeder ferrets are generally going to knowledgable homes with prepared families that are willing and able to care for them properly. I'm sorry if I sound preechy, I don't mean to and I don't want to sound like I am condeming anyone.. I just want to convey my feelings right and maybe give you another point of view |
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Post by Sherry on Feb 8, 2012 20:12:23 GMT -5
And that's one of the reasons we are here- we ALL have more to learn, and to listen to. And alternate opinions are one of them |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2012 0:06:52 GMT -5
I agree with all points given. I think I can do it while still maintaining my focus. What would happen in a mill if demand suddenly plummeted is the unecessary ferrets would be disposed of, euthanized.  What I want from the farms is for them to change their procedures so the fuzzies have some sort of life regardless of where they end up. That way everyone wins. (Artie is Marshalls.) The pressure on the farms, ya'll can help me with. Below is a change.org petition link to Triple F Farms. Care to sign and share? You can send it to your friends and they can sign and share. I love being in a capitalist democracy. When enough people speak, things get done. www.change.org/petitions/triple-f-farms-inc-treat-their-breeder-and-stock-ferrets-humanely?share_id=GYNNqXbmbM& |
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Post by Sherry on Feb 9, 2012 0:25:37 GMT -5
Did that several months ago when it first came to light. Unfortunately, they are going to get away with it as an "oversight" |
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Post by sherik on Feb 9, 2012 0:47:07 GMT -5
All of my ferrets are rescues but Huck. He is the only one I picked as a baby. I have 3 that came from the SPCA and I consider the others rescues too. They were the last ones left. Left by themselves cause they didn't have the cool markings or whatever everyone wants. Indy was in a tiny cage covered in urine. Fog was in a chinchilla cage with no ramps for him to get down. Even after I told them week after week. Couldn't take it anymore so I took him home. Sunny and Shady were on sale for cheap cause the pet store was closing down. For $50 a ferret anyone could have gotten them. Plus I didn't want them separated as they had been in the store together for months. They had such a hard time selling the last batch of ferrets that they haven't gotten anymore in and I hope it stays that way. I just wished that every ferret went to a loving forever home. Every ferret, even farm ferrets deserve to be loved, even if it means buying them from a pet store. Boycotting will not work. Marshalls and RC sell everywhere. Not just North America.
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