>I didn't get up the courage to confront the manager.
 
So what has been accomplished!!  The ferret is still in the pet store,
living in an aquarium.  The pet store owner will continue to take in
older ferrets, with no history of vaccinations, etc.  and keep them in
conditions totally unsuitable for any animal.  And, the cycle will be
perpetuated.
 
Why not confront the store manager or owner?  You don't have to do it in
the form of a confrontation, but rather as a discussion.  If you feel
that the manager or owner has no desire to better the conditions for the
ferret, go to the authorities.  You have local animal control officers,
the Dept.  of Public Health, state authorities, etc., etc., etc.
 
I recently worked very hard to have two adult ferrets removed from a pet
store for similar reasons - moldy poops in the cage, wood shavings, filthy
hammock, empty food dish - you name it it was there.  It took me 2 weeks
of phone calls and having an anonymous person go in to check on the
ferrets.  The Dept.  of Wildlife and Fisheries, which monitor the state
regs for vacs, finally sent someone in to remove the ferrets.  Fortunately
for the pair, there was a lady at the store at the time, who had just lost
her ferret and was very happy to take the ferrets.  She immediately went
to her vet, had them checked over, shots given and now they live in a
happy home.
 
One word of caution... Make sure that the ferrets are going to be
turned over to an agency that both has room for the ferrets and is
ferret-friendly.  I had contacted the local MSPCA and they were very happy
to take in this pair.  My biggest fear was that they would be taken from
the store and then sent somewhere to be euthanized.
 
I might never be able to go into that pet store again, but at least the
owner has been given a warning about taking in adult ferrets with no vac
history (against state law), as well as had his premises checked for
proper handling of ALL his animals.
 
Our ferrets are depending on us to do what they can't do.  We have a
responsiblity to make sure that any mishandling is rectified as quickly
as possible, without danger to the ferrets.  Please don't just walk out
of a pet store and leave the animal in deplorable conditions.  Be brave
and commited to your love of ferrets.
 
Phyllis M. Spy
______________________________
 
"Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
 Dizzy with eternity.
 Paint it with skin of blue, brush in some clouds and sea
 Call it home for you and me.....
 
 Picture a bright blue ball just spinning, spinning free
 It's dizzy with possibilities...."
 
Grateful Dead - "Throwing Stones"
[Posted in FML issue 3656]