One comment about spur-of-the-moment pet purchases, and these animals soon
ending up in shelters:
 
Originally, I thought the ferret license requirement in New York State was
stupid.  Their $10/year probably didn't make them very much money once they
took out the cost of the administrative aspects of the program, and the
whole reason why they had it (because ferrets are dangerous, dangerous
creatures!  ha ha!) is seriously flawed.
 
However, it did have one benefit ... it virtually eliminated
spur-of-the-moment purchases, and the situation I described above.
 
I still find it funny that I had to wait longer to buy my first ferret than
I did to buy my first pistol.  Nonetheless, I wonder if the ferrets weren't
better off when you had to wait a month befroe adoption.  I personally used
the time for research and education on what being a ferret-dad involves ...
I wish pet stores would encourage others to do the same.
 
--Chris
[Posted in FML issue 2305]