I just bought my second ferret from PetCo and I have to put my two cents in
about this:
 
If you gave PetCo a million dollars, they wouldn't be able to *buy* a clue.
 
We brought Jiff home 5 weeks ago.  He's about 12 weeks old.  I say "about"
because the people that "work" there didn't know.  As a matter of fact, they
didn't know anything.  Thank god I am someone that has ferrets before.  If I
was a first time buyer, Jiff would probably be dead by now and so would Dot.
I got Dot two years ago and also a PetCo ferret (I guess Chicago PetCos have
been carrying ferrets for a while).  The reason why Dot could possibly be
dead right now is because last Friday she was diagnosed with the Green Slime
Disease.  It seems as though Jiff is a carrier (he, in the meantime is
bouncing off the walls, begging for us to put Dot back in the cage with him
so he can rough her up some more).
 
Knowing from when I purchased Dot, they probably didn't have any info, I
asked the manager of the store anyway, if they could give me the information
regarding Jiff and what shots he's had, if he's neutered and or decented.
Well, not only did they not have any of that information, they couldn't even
tell me if he was a boy for sure (I already knew he was).
 
I was so angry when I left.  I vowed when I got home that I was going to
write a letter to the PetCo headquarters in regards to their so uneducated
staff and their care of small animals before they are puchased.  Then I got
home and, of course, got all wrapped up in playing with Jiff that I forgot.
Then a week later, Dot started getting sick.
 
When this is all over with Dot being sick and all, I am definitely sitting
down and writing that letter.  PetCo has no business selling any animal they
are not trained to care for.  I sometimes wonder if these people have any
brains at all.  Sorry, got a little carried away there.  I've been up with
the force-feedings of a/d all night.  I'm a little crabby.
 
Anyway, I'll join your fight against PetCo selling ferrets.
 
[log in to unmask]
 
P.S. I live in Chicago.  If anyone from the Chicagoland area is looking for
a great petstore to get a ferret.....go to Land of Pets in Palatine.  They
take extremely great care of their animals and they have all of the papers
of what shots were given when and they explain what to feed and not to feed.
I think they are from Marshall Farms, though.  I just put Kaluha to sleep a
few months ago (complications from adrenal disease) and I got him at Land of
Pets back in '91.
[Posted in FML issue 2408]