Hi, Everyone ...
 
I hope you holidays are happy and going smoothly!
 
I'm asking for your help in the Nashua, NH area.
 
I went into the pet store at the Nashua Mall to perform my regular check the
babies and make sure they have water (not just this store .. every pet store
I go by that sells ferrets)
 
Well, I found at least a dozen older (i.e., not small kits) ferrets in a
totally enclosed glass display.  No litter boxes ..  no toys ... and NO
WATER!!
 
I asked a guy there if he could get them some water (and I *WAS* being nice)
and he said (with an attitude) that he JUST gave them some, and they keep
tipping it over, and that he'd do it before he left for the night!
 
WELL ... the attitude set me off, but the "when I leave" part REALLY set me
off.  So, I said "No, not when you leave ..  NOW!!!!" He acted very
surprised and said "What?" And I repeated that they needed water now; not
when he left.
 
So, he storms off in the back and after a little while comes out with a
bottle, opens their door, grabs the little guy that was sound asleep in the
water bowl (yeah ..  and he *just* filled it up), and starts pouring water
in.
 
Those ferrets ..  how can I describe it ..  went nuts to get at that water.
And as they are fighting to get at the bowl, he keeps tossing them back so
he can keep pouring the water in.  I was SOOOOOOOOOOO UPSET!!  I started
saying some obscenities kind of out loud and under my breath (there was no
one around ..  or so I thought).
 
Then I hear the owner say how offended she is to hear such language (she was
standing behind me where I couldn't see her).  So then I told he how
offended I was to come in that store to find animals without water.
 
So, we get into this heated discussion about how the ferrets keep knocking
it over.  So I said why don't you put up a water bottle!!??!!  She said they
have and (get ready for this) ..  they take it down!
 
HOW CAN A FERRET TAKE A PROPERLY INSTALLED WATER BOTTLE DOWN??  WHAT DO THEY
DO ..  PIGGYBACK EACH OTHER AND LIFT IT OUT OF ITS HOLDER?!?!?!  I asked her
to demonstrate to me such a feat ..  and she walked away!  I COULDN'T
BELIEVE IT!!
 
This isn't the first time I've gone in there to find no water.
 
I drove home in tears.  I wanted to take them all home.  Even now thinking
about them I'm starting back up again.
 
Remember to check on our babies in pet stores ... they can't ask, we have to
do it for them!
 
Thanks for letting me vent ..
 
Nancy
[Posted in FML issue 1788]