Ferrets are highly specialized pets requiring specialized care.  That
extends not just to housing, but from home care to vet care.  As obligate
carnivores they require a special diet.  As burrowing animals, they
require special housing.  Qualified exotics vets are few and far between
and the local dog/cat vet is ill equipped and ill trained to handle the
myriad of problems and illnesses they develop.
 
These are intelligent, curious, mischievous little animals.  Their very
nature puts them at risk for injury and death, and their intelligence
level precludes them from living happily in a cage.  They need several
hours of supervised of play and time out of their cage daily to maintain
their mental and emotional health as well as their physical well being.
 
Ferrets are wonderful, loving little animals, but they are not for
everyone.  They already suffer an over population problem.  Across our
country literally thousands of them are given up, abandoned, abused
and/or neglected each year.  As you well know, for each animal
wholesaled, someone somewhere breeds another at least one other, or
two, or three.  Unfortunately, greed can be a powerful motivator.
 
PetsMart enjoys a reputation of being a pet friendly and responsible
business.  I believe it is this persona that has kept PetsMart ahead of
its competition in the minds, hearts and wallets of the pet loving
public.  I know a great many pet owners who will not shop in other pet
suppliers because of their tarnished reputations regarding the treatment
of their animals.  Many of these people will go into a Wal-Mart rather
than take a single step into one of those.  Please don't follow other
pet suppliers down the road of the almighty dollar.
 
Please, consider the well being of these precious little animals as a
group and as individuals.  Consider PetsMart's reputation, the good
will of a very large ferret owning population and stop the marketing test
now.  In the very least consider the cost to the lives of these precious
little animals is more than is conscionable and consider the dollar value
of the loss good will of the public.
 
Sincerely,
[Posted in FML issue 4744]