Hi FMLer's, There was a disturbing post on the FML (7/20/00) that I would like to address. As a shelter operator, we take in neglected and abused ferrets by the dozens, which we work hard to adopt out to good, approved homes. Many animal lovers have a soft spot for abandoned animals, and they will specifically seek out a shelter to adopt an animal that needs a home, rather than purchase a kit from a retail store. BREEDERS that advertise their ferrets as "adoptable" are way out of line. I have seen posts from individuals that read something like this: "Looking for one of those big 7 pound ferrets? We happen to have a few 8 month old guys, they are descended from so-and-so's line of ferrets, they're adoptable NOW!" OR "We have Kits for adoption, they are descended from blah, blah, blah..." The definition of a adoptable ferret is, to me : A ferret that has been surrendered to a shelter, abused,abandoned, found, left on the doorstep or turned over by Animal Control. These are a few examples. An adoptable ferret is not one one from a breeder that has been BRED ON PURPOSE. If the Breeder isn't able to sell their offspring, it is unfair to try to sell them as "adoptable" ferrets- this is misleading to the potential "adopter" and unfair to "real" ferret shelters. There are hundreds of ferrets in shelters that truly need to be adopted. ***NOTE: There are MANY breeders that accept back ferrets from their buyers (didn't work out, moving, didn't like, etc.); so there is a fine line between the term "adoptable" and "sell". If a breeder takes back ferrets (or sometimes actually accepts ferrets that need homes and the owner doesn't know what to do with them),I have no problem with these breeders advertising them- as long as they explain the actual situation. I DO have difficulty with Breeders that just out-and-out advertise their "excess" ferrets as "adoptable. I also wonder about these breeders that SELL their "adoptable" ferrets whole. Shelters advocate Spay & Neuter; most ferrets from a "real" shelter are spayed and neutered, OR the adoptee has to sign a neuter/spay agreement and show proof of the procedure once taken care of. I believe the post I saw on the 7/20/00 post didn't mention spay/neuter. Please support your local shelter; We DO have ferrets that have never had an owner touch them gently, or feed/water them, or care if they lived or died. Shelters make it their business to care. Think about it. Marlene Blackburn Richmond Ferret Rescue League (804)271-9591 [Posted in FML issue 3120]