>I don't think Petco and the other chains are "evil" or the folks who buy
>ferrets there are.  Its just a matter of lack of knowledge/education on the
>retailer and most customers parts.  Petco, and the other large regional
>chains can be a wonderful resource for us to educate the public...
>I ... always stop to visit the kits on my way through.... the amount of
>misinformation I overhear, both from customers and sales people, is
>frightening.  If some letter templates with shelter statisitcs and names
>and addresses for pet chain store contacts were made available to you,
>would you help?
 
 Ann,
I am new to the FML, well no okay I lied I have been lurking for awhile but
didn't start posting until a few days ago.  I live in Rochester, NY and I
don't know of any PetCo.'s in the area, although we do have a PetSmart and
our fair share of unferretknowledgeable pet stores that sell ferrets, one
which I bought three of my boys and another where I got a fourth.  I do
consider myself to be fairly knowledgeable, I don't nearly know
everything....I have recently gotten more involved in my ferret club (up
until april I had just been a member happy to get my bimonthly newsletters)
This is one of the things on our agenda, though it is a touchy undertaking.
We can't ask them to NOT sell ferrets, where would all the baby ferrets go
if not to petstores?  I too would like to see the employee's more educated
on proper ferret care (flicking them on the nose to deter biting?  Pine
shavings make good bedding?  Batheing the weekly?  Not to mention the other
major ferret no-no's) My proposition would be to hold bimonthly ferret
education seminars held by ferret knowledgeable members of the club, and
provide them with a take home study guide.  as well as a ferret care
brochure to hand out to prospective ferret parents.  I had started many
angry letters to both stores where I got my boys ( i hadn't known about the
shelter until after I brought them home) but when I reread them I just am
not getting my point across.  I am willing to give it another go...what kind
of letters are you looking for to go to Petco?  Do you have the address of
the main store where we can send them?
[Posted in FML issue 2376]