I posted this to the FML so others that may be thinking of Carolina
Ferrets could hear a first hand description of my experience.
 
Hi,
I saw your post on the FML about Carolina Ferrets.  I have one who will
be a year in the Fall.  I actually drove down to NC to pick him up as I
have family down there.  I live in Richmond, VA.
 
My experience with this breeder is that I love my little guy to pieces,
but I will never buy from her again. (that is my choice and my opinion)
I pre-orded a kit around Feb-March of last year.  I never heard anything
else for months, so I thought it was a scam and I figured I just lost my
money.  Well around August '04 I received this email telling me to go to
her web site and pick out my kit.  I couldn't believe it (I had all ready
purchased another kit through someone else) but I picked out my kit and
set up a date and time for me to pick him up.  I drove there on a Friday
with my husband and my mother and we arrived at a house with a lot of
land.  Sitting in the front yard was two cages full and i mean FULL of
ferrets.  The breeder was there along with 3 other people(those people
looking to purchase a ferret).  As soon as I stepped out of the car she
asked my name and then she pointed out my baby.  I went over and picked
him up and I was loving on him when she asked me if I wouldn't mind
letting the other people have him as they really liked him.  I immediatly
said no and I told her I would not have driven almost 6 hours for a
ferret that I didn't want.  My husband then started rushing her so we
could get out of there; we just didn't have a good feeling anymore.  She
must have had around 35-40 ferrets on her front lawn.  Mostly DEW with
very yellow fur.  Either way my kitt is what she calles a MUTT.  He is a
dark sable, with a white spot on his nose and chest and some of his paws.
 
When I got home I got scared about what I had seen and I thought I may
have gotten a baby that hadn't been descented or nueterd.  So I tried
calling the vet where she said her kitts get spayed/nuetered and
descented. (they are located in Canada)  After a day of calling I finally
talked to a tech who assured me, in a very rude way, that they had seen
my kit and that he was infact descented and nuetered.  My vet looked him
over the following week and assured me that he was in good health.  I
have to say this, my guy is the biggest ferret I have he is very loving,
but nippy at first.  More so than my others when they were little.  (All
marshal farms)
 
If you really want a ferret from a breeder and you have your heart set
on Carolina Ferrets then I guess you may get a good ferret, but a really
crapy/scary experience.  I have since heard nothing but bad news about
this breeder.  I even went to an event with our local ferret shelter and
they all had to see my Carolina Ferret.  They couldn't believe it.  They
have heard all of the nasty things that I have seen and heard.  I feel
that a reputable breeder will not
1) offer away a kit you wanted and drove 6 or more hours to get,
2) put well over 20 ferrets in a one level cage.
 
I will send you a pic if you would like, I even have his baby pic from
the breeder.
 
I do all of the card exchanges and i did a story about him on the ferret
day exchange.  He is my baby and he loves his crocheted eggs, and fresh
litter falling out of the bag.  He has so much personality.  But, if I
ever have the ability to get another ferret I would honestly go to a
shelter.  But if it must be from a breeder then I would go somewhere
else.  There are alot of reputable breeders out there.  I am sure the
FML knows who and where they are.  I hope this helps.
 
Jamie
[Posted in FML issue 4961]