The issue of selling ferrets from pet shops is more complex than just
whether or not to. I think the main problems with ferrets sold in pet
shops are (1) lack of proper education of both buyer and seller into the
care of ferrets in general, (2) source of ferrets sold in pet shops, and
(3) age of the ferret when spay/neutered. [Though not neccessarily in that
order].
 (1) can be minimized by proper education of both parties in the sale.
Local ferret clubs should provide information to pet shops that sell
ferrets to give to both their customers and employees. I often drop in on
some of the "ma & pa" pet shops to conduct spot checks on the information
(both verbal and written) that they provide on ferrets. I check on what
they're keeping the little guys in and am QUICK to tell them if it's not
to my liking. (You'd be surprised how many have switched from aquariums
and cedar chips to something better.  i also leave copies of our Ferret
Care sheets and brochures on our ferret association & shelter.
 (2) I recently learned that not all of the ferrets in the shops are
coming from Marshall or Path Valley. There are a few ferretries in
Wisconsin and Minnesota that are shipping ferrets to local "ma & pa's" in
the Chicago Area. One in Wisconsin sells whole ferrets. They, at least
provide info on the care and feeding of ferrets and also recommend that
the females be spayed at 5-6 months. (they even describe how to tell if
the jill is in heat). I've heard rumours about ferrets coming from one
Minnesota ferretry. Several of my ferret customers have come in looking
for a deodorizing shampoo for their jills. They usually bring the kit
along (they know I love to play with 'em). Sure enough, she has a ripe
odor.  I check ther ear for tattoos. NONE. Turning her over, she has a
cheerio-sized vulva. I tell them she's in heat. They say that she's
spayed. I tell them to get her to the vet a.s.a.p.  Luckilly none of my
patients have lost their little ones yet, but all come back and tell me
that the vet found that only one uterine horn had been removed (in all
cases!) It seems that one of the Minnesota Ferretries is not doing a
complete spay on their jills.
 (3) Much of the concern over the ferrets sold in pet shops is the age at
which they're being neutered. It's widely agreed that even 7 weeks is too
young. The general consensus seems to be that 5-7 months is better. It
allows the immune systems a chance to develop. I have two jills who were
spayed at or after their first estrus. One is 7-1/2  and has only had a
bout with insulinoma and is otherwise healthy as the cliche'd horse. The
other is 4 and will probably take home her second championship title this
year. Both are from wisconsin breeders who sold them whole.
 It seems that there are two acceptable solutions to this part of the
problem: Either (A) the breeders sell whole ferrets to the store (with
full educational material to both the employees and the customers) or (B)
they hold the ferrets until they're old enough to be spay/neutered, then
do the surgery and then ship to the stores, providing appropriate care
info to all parties.
There are obviously problems with these. Persons getting whole females
might 'forget' to schedule or get the spay  done and lose a ferret due to
aplastic anemia. Also, people shopping for ferrets in stores would want a
small, cute 6-8 week old kit, not a larger 5-6 month old adolescent kit.
I realize I'm only scratching the surface of this problem, but I just
wanted to put in my 2-cents-worth.
 
I work at a PetCare store whose only 'livestock' are fish, crabs and newts.
Our philosophy is it's better to go through either a breeder or a shelter
for pets than to a pet shop. I tend to agree as most of mine have come
from the shelter or from customers who could no longer keep them.
 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Roger McMillian  | Owned by Cinnamon Bear, CH Megabyte, CH Tribble, Heidi
  -Ferret Forum-  | Sneakers, Black Magic, Phoenyx and Maggie. [Ferrets]
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Opinions expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of the GCFA,
 FOX Broadcasting, Ferret Forum, Chicago Syslink BBS or President Clinton.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
[Posted in FML issue 0853]