[Somebody's really buggering up your From: address]
 
Hi,
        I used to have a ferret way back when at school in Michigan.  When I
moved to California, he went east with a good friend.  He wasn't the best
behaved ferret- he was "grown-up" when I got him and had been badly
mistreated.  Nonetheless, he was a lot of fun.  I'm starting grad school
this fall in Boston and am interested in getting another one.
 
        I was too well educated my first time around and thought I'd ask
some questions here before I really did it:
 
1) Is it legal to own a ferret in Boston?  Massachusetts?
 
2) I'm not totally sure of my schedule, but certainly I'll have some long
class days.  Would it be nice/kind/wise to get a second pet (cat, another
ferret, etc.) so that no one feels lonely?  i.e. playmates
 
3) Just how easy is it to train a ferret?  I'm thinking about practical
things like "no chewing on this" and "here is your litter box".
 
4) They can be litter trained, yes?  I had a cat that I was pretty easily
able to train to use the toilet and was able to get rid of the litter box.
Has anyone been able to train a ferret similarly?  Perhaps some other kind
of toiletry?
 
5) What can I expect as monthly costs for food and such?  I'll be on a
stipend so I need to look at the budget.
 
6) What are typical costs for 'fixing' and shots for a new animal?  I assume
(at least if I want to get them trained) that I'd be better off getting
a young animal.
 
7) Is there anything "bad" that is just impossible to train them against?
i.e. they will *always* dig up house plants or somesuch.
 
8) Pointers to references on ferret "owner's manual".
 
Thanks for any help!
 
Christopher Cilley      {ucsfcca|claris}!wet!cc         [log in to unmask]
                                                                          
[Posted in FML 0131]