Since there has been a recent thread about petstores and how the big
chains vary from one to another, I had to add my $.02.  First, a little
background: the big chain in my town sells ferrets from MF.  There are a
number of smaller petstores that also sell ferrets, many from MF, but not
all.  The "big chain" only has two stores in my town, but they are both
owned by the same person.  I don't know if it's the owner or the chain, but
they take very good care of their ferrets.  They're in good sized cages
(glass sides, but a *large* screened top), with toys, food and water, and
the poopies get cleaned up regularly, as I've never seen a big pile, and
with 5 babies in a cage, that would happen pretty quick.
 
The smaller petstores vary greatly in how they treat their ferrets.  In
one, I didn't see any ferrets when I walked in, but that was because they
were all out in the play area.  In another, they had 3 adults in a 25
gallon aquarium.  Obviously, I talked to the manager at this store, and
things are a little better now, but I'm still working on it.
 
Now, to the point:  Big stores aren't all bad, small stores aren't all
good.  It depends on the chain, owner, manager, employees *and* the
willingness of the public (that's us ferret owners <g>) to educate where
possible, and complain where necessary.
 
I suspect that, like here, there is often one owner who owns more than one
branch of the big chains.  This would lead to a likelihood that if one
branch is bad in a area, more of them would be, also.  But it means that
if you can get one fixed, you may inadvertantly help with others, too.
 
Well, I'm off my soapbox now.  Comments and observations welcome, flames
ignored. :)
 
Debbie & Jim
Pixie (The one in charge)
[Posted in FML issue 2591]