Long, long time ago, the International Ferret Association registered ferrets
for $5.00 each.  They had 10 years worth of registrations and bloodline/kit
records.  Then the registrar decided to commit suicide over a woman (so the
story goes) and all the ferret records are STILL tied up in his estate -
lost forever as far as I know.
 
FURO then started a registry - $4.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members.
It requires a photo of the ferret and is not concerned with lineage or much
other data.
 
NAFA also registers ferrets, $5.00 members and $6.00 non-members I believe
(I'm a bit behind on the FML, so if a NAFA person has answered this already -
stick with their price quotes).  I do not know if they ask for much more info
that the IFA did.
 
LIFE and AFA do not register ferrets.  Most breeding information can be
obtained by looking through show catalogs.  There is a breeding
network/newsletter and they too are trying to establish a database.  I do
not know what their fees are to do hetitage checks.
 
Since I have not had a response from the "NFA/NFR" as to who they are - I
would caution everyone about their newness and just what can they provide
and what they will do with their information.  Especially with California
residents.  $20.00 per ferret is very steep compared with the $5.00 charged
by other existing and established registry organizations.  Plus, they don't
really do much/offer much with the information they have collected.  many
people prefer to go to the shows which do not require registration with an
organization.  I see no valid purpose to registering a ferret with an
organization - it is just a money grabber.  I maintain records at my home,
and if I need access to "registry" information to prove i own a ferret, what
happens if I can't reach the registrar in time to save my ferret's life?  I
would rather rely on local sources like a photo album and my vet records.
Plus, with most of us being multi-ferret households, the $20.00 registration
fee would be better spent on the Rabies Research Fund.  THAT may truely save
my ferret's life one day.
 
I am NOT badmouthing the NRA person/people, I don't know them/him/her to
make any such statements.  I just am urging caution - it seemed like quite
an advertisement and solicitation of funds to me.
 
Pam Grant
Shelters That Adopt & Rescue Ferrets
[Posted in FML issue 1383]