#stoptheignorance

[weaselsnotrodents]

Please sign and share this petition to Petco for changes in their ferret care! Ferrets deserve at LEAST the minimum care that Petco promises.

[horsegirl12]

#autismspeaks #ihaveautism #stoptheignorance https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsv1DZlgWxg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xmzooto16bwv

[radflowerengineer]

Casual day as far as clothes for work- 1 more day of #werq and then some much needed days off to run errands I have been putting off for far too long! #Cannabis #HarmonyExtracts . #StopTheIgnorance 😜 https://www.instagram.com/p/CW9Yc84rKR2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[the-other-news]

Follow The Other News to see what the mainstream media does not tell us. Link in bio. #TheOtherNews #lockdown #poisonshots #stoptheignorance #SearchwithDuckDuckGo #fake💉 #news #notonthemainstreammedia #c👑rona #💉 #instagood #wow #theothertruth #share #repost  #Awakenotwoke #happeningnow #JUSTSAYNO https://www.instagram.com/p/CMp5UTsJEJT/?igshid=ynsmlm9mre8w

[bourgeoislatte]

Who is Desta French? Well let me tell you. She’s a Latina who lives in the UK. There is something fascinating about UK artist to me. The song Shame is what drawn my attention. I can’t find this song anywhere on mainstream, but you’ll find it on YouTube. Her voice reminded me of Amy Winehouse. But then I decided to do my research on her and found out more about this beautiful soul. She touch on topics on colorism and also spoke about the lack of representation of Latinas in the UK community main stream media. Interesting...It’s no different here in the United States. She also stated that Latinas come in every shape, size and shade. Which is sad, because this shouldn’t even be an issue. The ignorance is beyond me. To all my Latino/ nonblack friends, please pick up a book and read. Not only Latinas varies from shade, shape and size but hair counts as well. No such thing as “black girl hair.” We all have a curl pattern. Go travel! Cultivate your life! Check out Desta French! Dope artist! #educateyoself #pickupabookandread #cultivateyourmind #stoptheignorance #lattesmusichighlights #ukindependentartist #growasanindividual #latinasrock #iknowmorethanyouthink #ukartist #uklatinoartist #destafrench #destafrenchonrotation https://www.instagram.com/p/CFVgdrmJezF/?igshid=z00b86qqbs7g

[therealkitchencabinet]

"We are not trying to start a race war. We are trying to end one" #blacklivesmatter #stopkillingus #stopracism #stopthehate #stoptheignorance https://www.instagram.com/p/CBED82opH4E/?igshid=17kaith2gescp

[annedennish]

"Stay Home Alone Together"

“Stay Home Alone Together”

The greatest gift we can give each other right now is to stay home and live by the rules of social distancing. It’s almost ironic that something like “staying at home” can save our lives and the lives of others, yet it’s our reality right now.

I don’t want it to be a reality forever and I’m sure you don’t either. We’re living a “new normal” and now, more than ever, we need to support one another…

[ditchthediy]

I came across this last night and it brought me to tears. My grandmother used to say the same thing to me. During the ramp up to Expo 86’ in Vancouver there was lots of talk of nuclear weapons and Vancouver being a target for Russia. Vancouver was regularly testing their air raid sirens, for a few weeks. I was 12. My parents would tell me the truth, my grandmother who lived right next door, would tell me the sirens were to scare the birds away for The Concorde’s first flight to Vancouver for Expo. I believed her! I clearly remember The Concorde flying over my neighbourhood and of course the air raid sirens went off while it was. My grandmother was always one of those who helped. Even the little things. It’s times like these that a little extra effort makes the difference. What’s difference are you making today? #ditchthediy #makeadifference #doit #dotherightthing #help #spreadthelove #stopthenegativity #yyclove #yycliving #yycnow #hirehardings #yycbusiness #pivot #peoplehelpingpeople #stopthemadness #love #respect #stoptheignorance #stopfakenews #stopthespread #doyourpart (at Calgary, Alberta) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-rjgZIJjMD/?igshid=13wy9rqe957ll

[mikefahmy]

We need to unite as a city, country, world, stop the hate & jealousy of one another in this city, country & in this world, #stoptheviolence #stoptheignorance, #stopbullying #stoptherascism #racialprofiling. It's not cool to be rude to one another, just because they're not like you, different from you, have more or less than you, are from a different race, neighbourhood than you. We're all brothers & sisters. We need to start treating each other like it. It's not cool to carry a gun, shoot, stab, kill each other for money, clout etc. We won't change as a society until we start seeing each other as equals, treating each other as we would like to be treated. We're all brained washed by the media, social media, news outlets, corporations etc to be a certain way in order to be someone, or to having material things, luxuries makes us better people. Truth none of that does. Believe in what your heart tells you, what your spirituality tells you. (at Scarborough GO Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzWKKONhudp_8lTX2_p60duud24h6XbYsBku780/?igshid=1cu7lcxcyigca

[cbdwillchangeyourlife-blog]

Please SHARE Far and Wide!!!

The Ignorance MUST be Stopped! 

Personal Story:

I am sharing this post with permission from my Newest Heroes, Bob & Lisa L.* <3 <3 <3 "I haven't posted in a few days as Lisa has been out of town, and I needed her to help me put my thoughts into words that hopefully you will understand and hear. We both come to you with a heaviness on our hearts, a lot of not understanding what exactly happened last week. I know there are a lot of you feeling the sadness as well over the recent loss of our dear friend after his battle with Cancer, our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you! He made it out to go camping with a group of us weekend before last, he told us his Dr. had sent him home, told him there was nothing more they could do. He asked about the Cbd's and said he wanted to give them a shot, as at that point he had nothing else to lose and he didn't want to die! He still had a lot of things in this life that he wanted to do. 

We started him on the CBD's right then, he took them for two days while we were there, we set him up with enough to last him until we could get an order in for him. Lisa called Monday evening to see how he was feeling, he said he had fallen down when he got home and could not get up, he made it to his phone and called 911, from there was put into the care center, he said he had the CBD's with him and that he was going to continue to take them. He knew they were either going to help him or he would die, and he knew wouldn't die from the herbs in the CBD's! He had faith, and a very strong will to live. Each day we visited him, and each day he was getting a little stronger, he was getting his appetite back, he was eating food again and asking for food, he even asked for an extra donut on Donut Day at the Center! He was getting his attitude back, and giving the nurses a hard time, he was smiling, he said he was feeling better and better! We were witnessing what was a miracle happening with the CBD's we've been telling you about! We saw him twice a day, and each time he was feeling and looking so much better, he was getting a happiness in his eyes, laughing, sitting up and visiting for 30 to 45 minutes before needing a break. Lisa would go up and he would be sitting outside enjoying the fresh air, he said he couldn't wait to get back to his tomato plants, and back to the mountain, back to living again! He said he sat outside and watched the firewors and they were beautiful! 

The Next day when Lisa went up, the Nurses wanted to know what was in the capsules he had been taking, they said he was doing much better but they were having a problem because there was not a label on them and needed to know what they were. Lisa had the information with her and when they saw it said "Hemp" immediately there was a problem and he would not be allowed to take them anymore! We gave them everything they needed concerning the Hemp oils/CBD's, all the documents they needed showing they are legal and there was nothing in them that would hurt him, the Cheif Nursing Officer had her email everything about the Hemp to her, she said she had to forward all of that to a committee, schedule a group meeting to see if it was okay for him to continue with them. She even called his Pharmacist, and he told her they were just herbs and would be nothing but beneficial for him! After providing them with everything requested, she then said she had to go through the hospital's attorneys, the legal system, everyone who may be concerned and would let her know when and if he had permission to take them anymore, Until such time he would not be allowed the CBD's! We tried everything to get them to him, and keep them in his system! And every time, we were shut down because they were still waiting on approval! 

Tell me what would you do if you were in our friend's shoes? Wouldn't you want to continue with the very thing that was making you feel better again? The frustration of knowing the very thing that was helping him had been shut down and there was nothing we could do was overwhelming and so difficult! Saturday Morning Lisa received a phone call from our friend, literally begging her to get him some of the Hemp up to him, he wasn't feeling good and they were refusing to give it to him there! She was out of town with her girls, she called me and I went as fast as I could to try to get some to him, only to see by the time I got there, he was too weak and down that he probably wouldn't have been able to swallow it... I am heartbroken, we are heartbroken, and so so disappointed in the fact that an herb, a plant, that has been used for well over 5000 years for not only medicinal purposes, but for clothing, hats, cars, lotions, etc., everyday things that we all use, was taken away from a dying man because they do not understand, or they refuse to accept that it is not our enemy! It is not a drug! It is not a poison! It is changing people's lives every day, it was changing our friend's life every day that he was allowed to take it... Allowed? Seriously? He was improving, feeling better, smiling, eating, laughing, joking around, going outside, looking forward to living, and then suddenly was shut down and a life was lost! 

WE can only pray that this might open the minds, and eyes, of those who lack knowledge or refuse to accept that HEMP is not a killer! Ignorance is! We are thankful in our hearts he was able to enjoy some of his last days with us here on this earth.. to see him smile, laugh, to feel better even if it was only for a short while... RIP sweet friend, God be with you, you are out of your struggles now.."

[weaselsnotrodents]

A ferret struggling to get a drink of water in a #petco enclosure.

This is a post that my best friend and I wrote to help spread awareness of the abysmal level of care that Petco gives its ferrets, and hopefully catch the attention of the corporate office.

This is the link to the original post on facebook.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=140393777435966&id=100043960330502

Dear #Petco,

I have attempted to reach out to you on multiple occasions to address my concerns regarding your ferrets and each time I have been ignored. To add insult to injury I am not the only person in the community that you have brushed off. I am now reaching out to you in a more public way because these problems are serious and need to be seen. I will be addressing several things in this post, all of which are widely known about in the ferret community, some of which are mentioned in the Petco ferret care sheet.

I want to make sure that I am clear on the fact that this is not an in-store employee problem. You have some amazing employees that are doing their absolute best to care for these animals and you have some employees that are just trying to do their jobs. These employees need your help to provide decent living conditions for these ferrets. Your policies and lack of employee education are preventing that progress. I beg you to release updated training videos that teach them how to perform basic care as well as notice injuries and illnesses. While your care sheet does include this information, your employees are not trained to actively spot these problems and make sure that prospective owners understand how to identify them as well. By better educating your employees (all of your employees) on the animals they are working with, you could improve the in-store care of your animals enormously.

As stated in the Petco ferret care sheet, ferrets are obligate carnivores. As you know, this means they cannot digest anything other than meat. Their digestive system is more sensitive to plant matter than cats. Unfortunately, Petco does not carry any food that is healthy for a ferret’s digestive tracts. Honestly, there is no perfect kibble. Marshalls premium, for example is mid quality and meets only basic needs. However, there are better options with higher quality ingredients that could also be sold within the store:

Wysong ferret epigen 90 digestive support

Nature's Gold ferret food

Young Again ferret food

Stella and Chewy's Freeze dried raw cat food

These are all wonderful options to have available in-store for a variety of owners. I guarantee owners including myself would happily buy any of these options from you. Currently, your stores only offer options known to cause many health issues. These options are not only readily available in your store, but recommended by employees:

Kaytee – Advertised as a blend of fruits, vegetables, seeds and grains. The opposite of what a ferret should be eating.

ZuPreem – Wheat and potato are in the top 4 ingredients.

Mazuri – Brown rice and soybean meal are in the top 3 ingredients.

Sheppard & Greene – Rice and corn are in the top 5 ingredients. (corn is in there twice)

Sunseed Vita Prima – rice, corn, and wheat in the top 5 ingredients.

These foods are causing more harm than Petco realizes. Many of the ferret foods on your shelves(including those listed above, and others) contain ingredients like Peas, chickpeas, lentils, and sweet potatoes; which are known to cause (potentially fatal) bladder stones in ferrets.These foods unfortunately include Tapioca, malt, and molasses as well as other forms of sugar, which are all known to cause insulinoma and diabetes and more. It is a horrible, shocking thing for a first-time ferret owner to think they are feeding their pet a healthy food, and watch their ferret have a seizure because of that food. Many foods also contain BHA, BHT and Sodium Benzoate, which are preservatives that are known causes of cancer. Petco has removed cat and dog foods from its shelves with these ingredients, and it seems unethical that these foods with the same ingredients are still stocked and recommended just because they are for ferrets rather than cats or dogs.

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/c/betternutrition-ingredients

Petco has taken great pride in carrying a wide selection of high quality foods for many species including cats and dogs, but ferrets are not included in this store expectation. I have been told several times that Petco products are expertly tested and backed by veterinarians; I cannot believe this, knowing that your only options for ferrets all lead to serious health issues and ultimately death.

Most often, ferrets and their related products are displayed in the rodent section of your stores. There is a common misconception that ferrets are in the rodent family, though in reality they are more closely related to a cat than a mouse. Being housed in the rodent section perpetuates this issue because prospective owners think they are purchasing a low maintenance pet that will be happy to stay in a relatively small cage and run on a wheel. The idea of ferrets being low maintenance pets is wildly inaccurate. It causes thousands of ferrets to end up with owners that unwittingly put them in situations that cause their health to decline and ultimately, die much younger than they should. As it stands, you have the ferret care level labeled as average. If you were to label them as at least intermediate, this could inform the potential owner that these animals are higher maintenance and require more care, attention, and dedication. They also require an exotic veterinarian, which incurs a higher cost to be seen. Because ferrets health can decline quickly, taking them to an exotic vet is not a possibility, but an inevitability.

Living conditions are very important to the health of a ferret.The amount of space, type of bedding, as well as how they are fed and watered, can drastically affect the health and happiness of a ferret. The display cases that available young ferrets are kept in are not ferret safe. For example, the Petco ferret display cases usually have paper bedding, which is known to cause upper respiratory infections, due to breathing in the dust from the bedding. Unfortunately, many newly adopted ferrets go home with URIs for this reason. Also, ferrets will sometimes eat paper bedding, risking deadly bowel obstructions. There are bedding options that do not hold these dangers, such as Marshalls paper pellets, Purina unscented yesterday's news, or even straw. Plus, they are just as easy, if not easier, to maintain.

Another problem is that the display cases are overcrowded, creating a breeding ground for illness for young ferrets. With overcrowding comes ear mites and (again) upper respiratory infections that easily pass from ferret to ferret in those cramped living conditions. Many ferrets are leaving your stores with both of these ailments. If you are going to be housing 7+ ferrets for any amount of time, an acceptable amount of space would be about 17sqft. A single ferret, would need an enclosure at least 3ft L x 3ft W x 2ft D. These size requirements are extreme for a store display, but these current cases are barely large enough for one ferret. By adding more levels and having less ferrets at a time in these cases you would allow safer conditions for their stay. I understand the display cases are only meant to hold ferrets for a week or so at a time, but it is not uncommon for ferrets to be in these display cases for months at a time.

There is a common problem with the food in Petco ferret displays; not getting switched out often enough, or being taken care of properly. Often, they are given [Marshalls] soupies; which are ground up kibble with water. Soupies are great for ferrets, because it helps prevent prolapse in young ferrets! However, soupies(or any wet style food) should only be left out for 2 hours maximum. If they are left out longer, (which is not advised) they need to be rehydrated properly. The soupies in Petco display cases tend to be left out until it is old and crusted over with paper bedding mixed into it. Leaving them out for so long causes upset stomachs and diarrhea- leading to malnutrition and dehydration - or even worse, starvation. These health concerns are only magnified by the exclusive use of hanging water bottles in the displays. These bottles do not allow enough water for the amount of work it takes for a ferret to use, and are causing your ferrets to get (and remain) dehydrated. The combination of hanging water bottles and old, crusty soupies can be deadly for young ferrets.These bottles are also widely known to break the teeth of young and very old ferrets. Hanging bottles are an unnecessary risk, bordering on inhumane when used as the only hydration source. They should be provided with bowls, which are much easier for ferrets to drink from, and less hazardous to their teeth. Your store carries a wide variety of auto waters that will be just as easy to fill as the bottles.

Outside of nutrition and living conditions, customers(in most stores) can simply ask to interact with these ferrets and they are handed over without a second thought. Ferrets are susceptible to many illnesses that are easily passed around (flu, colds, strep and distemper, to name a few). Handling a ferret in a public space should be done with caution.

It is my understanding that Petco is phasing the severely outdated Marshalls pamphlets out, and they are being replaced with the Petco ferret care sheet, which are significantly better, but still concerning. In these care sheets, paper bedding is recommended. However, while some bedding can be used, soft fabrics are often preferred by ferrets, such as small fleece blankets.

A very big concern in the Petco care sheet is the recommendation of monthly baths with shampoo. Bathing ferrets at all is only recommended when absolutely necessary, and never with shampoo. The shampoo strips their natural oils, making their skin itchier and their musk even stronger. Even with these concerns, the Petco care sheet is far superior to the Marshalls pamphlet.

Unfortunately, Petco does not uphold the standards and recommendations advertised in the care sheet within their own store. The care sheet recommends having a large, multi-level, wired habitat with good ventilation. However, not only are the ferrets at Petco kept in plexiglass enclosures that do not allow proper ventilation, the recommended cages are not readily available in store, and need to be ordered online. Because of this, many ferrets being adopted are leaving the store in unsuitable enclosures, such as guinea pig cages. The first exposure to the care of a ferret any potential new owner has, is the care given by the store selling them. The ferret care sheet says to scoop the litter boxes in a ferret enclosure daily or as often as necessary, and to change the bedding once a week. There are many accounts of customers observing enclosures that have not been cleaned in so long, that they are infested with bugs. The care sheet also recommends trimming ferrets claws every few weeks. A ferret that I adopted from Petco myself, had claws so long they were digging into the pads of her paws. She had been at the store for 4 months. If Petco doesn’t hold itself to its own standards for pet care, how can any new pet owner be expected to meet those standards? Teach by example; actions speak louder than words.

These young ferrets deserve better care and their future owners deserve more information before adopting. So many new owners learn the basic care of a ferret from the standard Petco employee. By giving your employees the proper education; Petco has the ability to make a huge difference in ferret care and stigma. But as it stands, they are only adding to the serious consequences of our society being undereducated and assuming ferrets are stinky, rabid, savage rodents. These young ferrets deserve more, and as the Petco ferret care sheet shows my requests are the bare minimum for their health and safety.

I want to be clear. This is a problem that has continued for far too long. The conditions that Petco ferrets are kept in are unacceptable. I've included pictures and videos from Washington, Texas and Massachusetts. This is a nationwide problem and the nation is watching. This is not a cause I am taking lightly, and I am not going to go away. I don’t quiet down; I will only get louder.

Sincerely

Sarah

#PetcoDoBetter #WeaselNotRodents #StopPretendingThisIsOkay #AVoiceForTheFerrets

Online Sources

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eGbxjYrOVGt86pFUdRWZyHPkLOpiQMVB/view?fbclid=IwAR2_vIAqYUrnCoCdbtjMUGPhaf_58kZXzAZrAexm6jDjdZJn0MEBQ499Bik

Petco.com/Caresheet

http://www.ferret.org/pdfs/education/cages.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0_cSGh2eB2h7GvEoqJbfSZB4RffDxb_S2UuogLmtM_nRGOxbp9BZuFhxU

https://www.ferret.org/pdfs/education/bestlitter.pdf

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8299309

VeterinaryPartner.com is not affiliated with Sarah Burch

Brooks, W. (2010). Insulinoma. Veterinary Information Network. Retrieved from: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3181

VeterinaryPartner.com is not affiliated with Sarah Burch

Brown, S. (2014).Ferret World. Veterinary Information Network. Retrieved from: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2774

VeterinaryPartner.com is not affiliated with Sarah Burch

Rhody, J. (2006).What ferret owners should know about insulinomas. Veterinary Information Network. Retrieved from: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2427

VeterinaryPartner.com is not affiliated with Sarah Burch

[the-other-news]

[jamesbrownjr]

This bracelet displays when you wear it you are the sun! But know in REALITY the world never revolves around you. #WakeUp #GetOverYourself #StopTheIgnorance #StopArrogants #ItsnotConfidence #ItsNotAboutYou #RememberThat #StopPlaying https://www.instagram.com/p/BoCB8O9FzpB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v2jfm4zqu4se

[phatsnowbunnyreviews]

Maybe you #homophobes should stop using #computers #stopthehate #stoptheignorance #loveislove #RESIST (at United States)

[mattithyahu]

Are they even trying at this point? This is just pathetic. #StopTheIgnorance

[dadpreneur]

The Universe, and everything in it, belongs to God. Stop trying to deny the truth, you're only going to hurt yourself when it's all said & done 🕵️📖🗿💪☝️🖖 #stoptheignorance The lives we live are a physical construct of what our minds project to be reality. As people, we are all the same, we each have a brain, a heart, and a body, and the God given power to use them as we see fit. But we are divided, and many use their God given gifts to hurt people, and commit evil acts towards other fellow humans. Rather than follow the principles of God, and simply Love Thy Neighbor. These individuals are not only traitors to humanity, but sad lost souls who appear to have no hope. Some of our fellow humans are just hurting mentally, and hurt people, hurt other people. You watch the news! You don't need me to tell you about what they do! The question is why are they hurting?..Why? I believe the lack of presence of The Holy Spirit in ones mind and heart, could easily allow the darkness of this world to take control of ones mind, and therefore also control ones life. Remember, our fight is not against the flesh, but against the evil spirits. God is love! So if you lack love and empathy in your heart, it's because you lack God in your life. I truly believe there could be world peace, if humanity would live by the Word Of God. When you have the love of Christ in your heart, you have peace in your heart. When there is peace in your heart, there is peace in your life. Not that obstacles and setbacks do not occur, but how the peace will allow you to know that you can navigate safely through any obstacle or situation. To keep you from having to worry and stress. And when there is peace in your life, and peace in my life, and in the lives of all our fellow humans, there'd be peace on earth, not war 🤔 God, is Love 🕵️📖 "A worriors deadliest weapon, is his mind" #hueman #discipleofchange #indigenous #knowledgeismytrade #thetruthsetmefree