>Hey guys I have some disappointing news.  I visited PETsMARTs yesterday
>for some food and noticed their ferret 'habitat' was complete with kits.
 
* Please let me know which store you visited by its address.
> These guys are so incredibly tiny I have never, never seen a kit that
>young.  Their eyes were *barely* open, they were just stumbling around
>their stupid plastic 'cage' that conveniently has tubes the ferrets
>can't climb out of and tons of artificial lighting.  They can't even
>get into their hammock!!
 
* I believe Linda addressed this well however I will elaborate.
 
* All PETsMART ferrets are sent to stores at 9 weeks of age.
 
* Our breeder follows strict policies as to age at surgery, vaccinations
  and time post surgery until can be delivered to store.
 
* The habitats are lighted with full spectrum lighting during the day and
  are dark at night.  A sleeping cube in addition to the built in "caves"
  provide additional areas of retreat.
 
>I asked to talk to the 'specialist' who said she thought they were 20
>weeks old!!  Yeah right!!  I almost laughed at her!!  I waited until I
>exited the store though.
 
* I am sorry you were not given the proper information and I will address
  this with the store when you let me know which store was visited.
 
>Now I just got off the phone with another specialist who told me she
>thought they were three months old.  I asked her if the breeder was
>Marshal, she just said no.  I paused, waiting for her to tell me who
>it was, nothing.  I asked if it was Path Valley, she said no.  I again
>waited for an answer.  I finally asked, so who is your breeder, and she
>says, PETsMARTs buys from vet-approved breeders.  I'm like ok whatever,
>I am giving up trying to get a straight answer out of this lady.  These
>people don't know squat about ferrets.  If they already have their
>rabies and they are three months then they are not old enough right??
>12 week old ferrets should get their rabies at 16, right??  That's my
>question.  At what age do they get their rabies??
 
* Our ferrets are vaccinated for rabies, we are the only retailer doing
this, purely for their own safety.  If a ferret happens to bite a human,
that persons MD will immediately suspect the ferret of having rabies and
ask for it to be destroyed and its head submitted for exam.  This has
occurred numerous time with other small pets including hamsters, rats,
etc.  MDs and most customers are unwilling to listen to reason and the
health dept. WILL intervene.  The early rabies vaccine is to protect
the ferrets firstly, and the humans secondarily from having to begin
prophylaxis.  Though given early, the vaccine is safe.  I will not go
into vaccine trial and regulatory approval in this forum.
 
>And why are these babies so darn little!!  It's unbelievable!!  Also,
>does anyone have a way of telling exactly how old they are??  By their
>teeth??  That would be very helpful.
 
* I am sure that any of the IFC directors or members who visited our
ferrets will comment that the ferrets they observed were of terrific size
and health.  The ferrets you observed were born shortly after those.
 
Dr. Mike
[Posted in FML issue 4880]