This is just my personal experience that had been brought up after reading
the recent heated arguement.
 
I had been interested in a ferret and reading books about caring for one for
years until I finally get a chance to have one.  I have no idea where to
find one in my area since I have never seen any in pet shop and I tried the
phone book.  I found one shelter listed there so I drove there to check it
out.  I turned away immidiately when I was saw that they requested
home-visits and inquire about financial situations as I felt it is violating
my privacy.
 
Later, I did purchased a couple ferrets from local pet store.  I know some
people here dislike that idea, but I did it with great deal of planing and
have no intention to abandon them ever.  Anyway...
 
I decided I want a more exotic colored ferret as my 3rd addition and I
seeked out another local shelter/breeder (since all I ever find in pet shop
are sable or albino).  Everything went great and I went home with an
handsome silver-mitt that day, and I find out the painful way that it has a
nasty habit of biting and hold on to my hand.
 
I am at a lost after having several puncture wounds on both my hands, so I
tried to call the shelter/breeder I got the ferret for some advice.  To my
dissapointment that he never reply any of my calls.
 
I do respect you shelters out there and am sure most of you will help out
anyone who adopted your ferrets.  But after my very first experience with
shelter that leave me out in the cold, I have second thought about getting
another ferret from shelter again.
 
I am not promoting pet shops or demoting shelters.  This simple my
experience that I'd like to share.
[Posted in FML issue 2150]