>I debated whether to tell the tale and risk starting an uproar or just
>quietly fight a losing battle.
 
It's only a losing battle if people DON'T speak up and make a stink when
things like this happen. You were right to contact Petco headquarters.
 
I would suggest you write down what happened and send it to Marshall Farms
as well, perhaps registered mail so that you have a receipt that they
received it.  As you mentioned, Marshall's IS a for-profit business, of
course, but they should be informed as to what happened to this little one.
 
I'm no fan of Marshalls, as anyone who has read my past posts knows.  But
I have to wonder sometimes if they are truly aware of how often these
kinds of things happen.  So many of us see these kinds of things, but so
few take action and contact the companies.  There are a flood of stories
here and on other message boards about the sad fate of many of these guys,
but does Marshall's receive this information as regularly as we do?  Do
they receive a flood of letters?
 
I've sent Marshalls two letters.  One regarding the abbreviated life of
my Nikita who we lost to the double-adrenal, insulinoma cocktail.  And
another that showed some "before" and "after" pictures of my Boomer,
showing how adrenal disease has left him naked, smelly, and skinny at
the age of four.
 
If we don't share what we see and experience with these little guys with
the pet stores and the breeders, things won't change.  But if we make the
effort to speak up for them - not just here online but to the people and
companies who can make changes if enough people show concern - this will
never be a losing battle and the ferrets will benefit from our efforts.
 
Thanks for sharing the story and for contacting Petco,
Heather W. in Massachusetts
[Posted in FML issue 3778]