To Debbi's remark on breeders that "send out" ferret and also run a shelter. Debbie, please look up the meaning of hypocritical. (Artificial, counterfeit, deceitful, deceptive, phony, fake, insincere are all synonyms.) Then maybe you may see why many breeders/shelters may be offended. As a breeder that also runs a shelter, I feel that "if a breeder wants to send ferrets out into the world, they should be willing to take in those that need homes, love and special care". As a breeder/shelter/rescue, I know I'll never make any money. That is not my main purpose for breeding or running a shelter. The reason I breed is for betterment of the breed and just plain love of them. I take in rescues because I feel strongly that if you're will to add to the population you should be willing to help support the population and that's is one of the things that makes you a responsible breeder! I go to 8-10 shows a year, showing my "kids" and breeding from those that do well at these shows. Many of these fine people that I have met at these shows work hard on breeding quality show/pet ferrets along with running shelters. And, if not a shelter, they have agreements with shelters. Also any reputable breeder will ALWAYS take back one of their ferrets at any time. Their contract states so. A responsible breeder also guarantees their ferret's health and offers one-one support. Marshall's may guarantee their ferrets but if a pet store send one back it's euthanized and how many pet stores offer one-one support? If it weren't for these breeders working on the betterment of the bred, where would all the different colors and body styles come from? It's the breeders that have brought in the English, German, Austrialian, New Zealand, Swedish, Scottish, Russian bloodlines to diversify the gene pool. For years, the only colors/body style you could get from Marshalls was sables and albinos and all were whippet body styles. Then Marshalls went to outside breeders and brought in new bloodlines. Maybe since there are so many dogs out there we should do something about all the breeders that show their animals at shows like Westminster - should they continue to breed when there are so many homeless dogs out there? Does it matter that they are breeding for disposition, comformation and betterment for championship dogs as long as the puppy mills are out there to supply dogs for the public. Do breeders of specific breeds of dogs take in their own kind if a humane society/shelter/pound gets one in their facilty or is the shelter/humane society/pound stuck with the responsiblity of caring and finding a home for these dogs Do they have "no kill" facilities? I don't usually respond to most of the things on the FML - due to my "full" schedule because of my "kids" and fulltime job. Ask any breeder and/or shelter about their "free time". It's the only thing other than love that is free and their's not enough of either. Thank goodness my SO is so supportive. Darn, no amount of money in the world could make me put in the long hours I do for the sake of my "kids" - it's got to be love that makes one do it. And I can think of many, many breeeders and or/shelters that feel the same way. Ok, off my soapbox. Blame it on the ferret fumes. :>) Scarlett and all the Happy Dookers [Posted in FML issue 2961]