Hello. I live in Sierra Vista, AZ (south of Tucson). I do have a web-link to a shelter in Phoenix. The Shelter mom, Julie, there is wonderful! Last week we (our shelter here) received a call from a lady in the Phoenix area that had found a ferret. She drove 45 minutes to pick up the ferret and bring him back to the shelter. Their website even has a web-cam set up so that you can see the ferrets playing. Website: http://www.wuzzles.com/ferrets/ They are now specializing in breeding, however, do still take in ferrets from time to time. Here is another shelter http://wwwfuzzyferrets.homestead.com/ I am sure there are more out there and the best thing to do is to ask someone at one of the shelters above. Tucson also has a shelter: http://members.tripod.com/FerretFriends/ And of course, our shelter here, Ferret Corner http://geocities.com/ferretcorneraz/index Hope that information helped. I am a new mommy too. Had never actually seen a ferret until Jun 01. My boyfriend - who had one before - brought this little 8 week old baby Spice home...and I fell in love. As far as cuddling...well girls normally don't...mine both would rather play or just walk around then be cuddled - just like people...everyone is different. One thing that I can tell you...pick them up A LOT. Not for long periods but just short ones. We did that with Spice and she doesn't freak out when you pick her up and put her to your face. She just waits for you do either put her down or give her kisses. Our other ferret, Pepper, we just got 2 weeks ago and she was 5 months old...a biter and also deaf most of the time. She is learning. I think for me that kits are much easier at least when it comes to some things. As for litter box training...I think Spice went through the same thing. She now knows the word "potty". When she started "missing" the litter box after being so good with it...we had a solution that takes some effort on the person. Before you let them out of the cage, make them go potty. Put them in the litter box and say "potty". If they get out, put them back and repeat. Once you get them to go (hopefully!) then they can come out to play. (Careful...sometimes they sucker you and "pretend" to go!) About 10 minutes into playing, pick them up and put them in the litter box closest to them (I am assuming that you have one outside of their cage...if not...that may be the problem. They don't normally like having to go back to the cage to go). Put them in the litter box and say "potty". If they jump out, pick them back up and say "potty". I would repeat this 3 or 4 times. If they don't go then let them play some more. But be ready. If an accident happens....I have always made them watch - just don't be mad and hurt them and DON"T rub their nose in it! I pick up the poop with a paper towel and then place it in the litter box...then show them and put them in the litter box and say "potty". I am sure that there are a lot more people out there with information... and much wiser...but I figured I would throw my 2 cents in. Joanne Wuzzies: Spice and Pepper [Posted in FML issue 3590]