Mary,
 
I was impressed by your post.  After having gotten two rescues in that
were both pregnant because the pet store never checked with their
Canadian Supplier and made sure they were altered.  I had a woman email
me, since she saw my posts about the Canadian Rescues, she got two boys
from one of the petstores.  The one boy as he was becoming mature
attacked the other one.  She rushed him to the vet and had to have 4
stitches put in the others back.  So I agree that definitely these
ferrets being sold by pet stores should be altered especially since so
many people are not aware that females cannot remain whole with the
assistance of a hob or v-hob or hormone shot.  Now the Canadian Breeder,
with which, I have spoken to after several phone calls and trying to
understand his accent, explained that he sent out two girls and several
boys.  The boys were 3-4 months old and the girls were 8-11 months old.
He kept the girls in with whole boys but since he didn't see "their first
heat", he figured they were okay and/or didn't really care if they were
okay or not and sent them off to the pet store.  But anyhow, that is
neither here nor there, the damage was done and as some of these ferrets
are popping up here and there not altered, we are assisting the
unexpected owners.
 
I would love to see Path Valley, Triple F, Marshall's, etc., alter the
ferrets at least 16-24 weeks of age, they would still prevent releasing
ferrets whole into the pet community but at the same time, the ferrets
would have a chance to mature and perhaps it will increase the margin
of error in altering them so young and maybe just maybe increase their
lifespan.  It pains me when people tell me they have not had a ferret
live past 5-7 years of age and in some areas not even past 5 years old.
I know some of it might have to do with environment, diet, etc., but
ferrets should be living 10 + years old.  But of course, we have been
fighting for the ferret farms to let them mature before altering them
but they feel they would loose money, don't want to feed them and care
for them for months, etc.  You name it, they have used that excuse or
reasoning to prove they can't change anything.  But in this case, it's a
very political issue such as abortion, both sides can be argued but there
seems to be no definitive.  Though some believe it's right others belive
it's wrong.  Same thing with the ferret farms altering so young, some
argue it's okay and others would rather not altering or later altering.
This topic I am sure will stir up mixed feelings but I think we can all
agree that if they altered them later, we would see the ferret's health
improve and less margin of surgerical errors.  But in no way was this
meant to be a flame to any of the farms but yet a suggestion.  But yes,
I agree with Mary, it is best to have them altered when releasing to the
general public, especially since the pet stores do not interview or offer
alter rebates or have them sign an adoption contract, etc.  The pet
stores more often don't have the time.  But where does the cycle start,
from the ferret farm, the pet store, the ignorant new owner?  That is
certainly something else that could also be argued but the point is that
ferrets sold out a pet store to new owners who are not properly educated,
should be altered.
 
Thanks,
Dawn
[Posted in FML issue 4625]