I read LJ, all the way to the end, and you guys are awesome :-)
Your breeder sounds perfect. I think when you find a person like that, you kind of get a pass on the buy vs. adopt debate because you are buying from a person who is strengthening the breed, and it is good to reinforce economic demand for healthier animals. That said, I totally understand the conundrum. I face it every time I get a ferret, all the more so because their life spans are so short--buy a baby from a big breeder, get a lifetime with that ferret but also encourage big breeding*, adopt an older no less awesome ferret but only get a few years at best. And they're all equally deserving of a good home. I try to alternate.
*which in ferrets is also resulting in genetic problems linked to "adorable" traits like white stripes on their heads, extra fluffy coats, squished faces, etc. Humanity seems to have a real knack for messing up perfectly good animals :-/
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2013-12-06 11:52 pm (UTC)Your breeder sounds perfect. I think when you find a person like that, you kind of get a pass on the buy vs. adopt debate because you are buying from a person who is strengthening the breed, and it is good to reinforce economic demand for healthier animals. That said, I totally understand the conundrum. I face it every time I get a ferret, all the more so because their life spans are so short--buy a baby from a big breeder, get a lifetime with that ferret but also encourage big breeding*, adopt an older no less awesome ferret but only get a few years at best. And they're all equally deserving of a good home. I try to alternate.
*which in ferrets is also resulting in genetic problems linked to "adorable" traits like white stripes on their heads, extra fluffy coats, squished faces, etc. Humanity seems to have a real knack for messing up perfectly good animals :-/