Yesterday I stopped by a pet store in Washington, Missouri. There, in a
large cage were five ferrets. They had litter boxes and food and water, so
I am NOT complaining about the treatment they've received. I'm hoping that
the aquarium-like cage was huge enough that they were able to get some air
circulation. But the sad thing is that I think they've been there in the
pet store for a very long time. They looked bigger than my ferrets, and
mine are all adults. I was in the store last July, and I'm not sure, but I
fear that they may be the same ferrets. The owner said they were not, and
I don't mean to question her, but these guys did not seem like babies. I
doubt that they ever get played with. The store owner said they bite.
Without thinking, I commented they really needed somebody to play with them
who knew about ferrets and they would learn to stop biting really quick. I
think I offended her, but I did not mean to. I just spoke my thoughts out
loud without thinking how it might affect the listener. These are very
kind people who run this store. They do the best they know how. I wanted
so much to at least hold the little guys, but my ferrets had ECE this past
summer, and if I understand it correctly, it's contagious for years. It
broke my heart. I wanted to bring each one of them home, but I can't. I
have four, which I know doesn't sound like many to those of you who have
dozens, but it's stretching the limit of how many ferrets I can care for.
I think the price they had posted was $79.00 each, but I'm not sure. The
pet store is called Critter Corral. Please email me if you want
directions. I realize this is a pet store and not a shelter, but I just
felt so sad for those little ferrets. They did, at least, have each other,
but it didn't seem like much of a life.
Jodie
[Posted in FML issue 2858]
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