Well, just an example for you, Cheryl, and anyone else who has concerns over a ferret adoption fee versus the pet store price. It's been stated already, A ferret has had only one shot ad the store. A shelter will give the series. Example: Li'l Bit the baby 10-week old Marshall who came in was too young to have AHD all her shots. Now, I had originally wanted to keep her until they had all been given. People were lined up to adopt her, and the first one to chime in for her was a ferret owner known to me. I knew she wanted to take her home sooner, as when she came to visit and see if her current ferrets accepted her, it was love at first sight for them all! So it would have broken my heart to see her leave without her baby, and have to wait 2 more weeks, and instead, I offered her new owner to bring her back for the rest of her distemper shots at NO FURTHER COST to the owner. You won't get that from the pet store. I offer FREE boarding to my adopters in case they need to go out of town on emergency or are hospitalized (gods forbid). If it's a planned vacation, I ask for a donation of some sort towards the shelter kids fund. Again, not a service you get from the pet stores. Your one year guarantee is basically worthless. Most illnesses will not develope until your ferret gets older. But, all they will do is replace the ferret or refund your purchase price. That doesn't pay your vet bills. My darling Siggy was a 9 month old ferret who came into my shelter with three other ferret who all got adopted, but she didn't because she came into season, yet she was a Marshall farms ferret. She had bloodwork done to test for illnesses which could be related to a swelling vulva $75. She had exploratory surgery, and then they opened her up to remove the ovary and half of her uterus (which had fused to her liver) which was left behind after a botched spay by the Marshalls techs. Her surgery was just over $400, after our 25% shelter discount. We held a hammock drive to cover the costs (thank you again for all those who helped, I made many new and wonderful friends as well who are dear to me, Like Arlene and Diane) and MF actually were kind enough to contribute the purchase price ($125 here) for her surgery when my vet faxed her MF guarantee card and medical diagnosis. raised all but $175 and I got a $90 adoption fee on Siggy who went to live with a great family. Normally, I charge $75 as does the shelter near Cheryl. but The person was willing to pay the slightly higher fee because she was waiting in the wings for Siggy during her surgery and post operation until her stitches were removed and knew the bill was a high one. I LOST over $70 on this one ferret alone. But for MY piece of mind, this ferret is now healthy and happily dooking it up with her family. It's just an example of how your shelters work for the ferrets and not for the money. I know all the other shelters out there are laughing and saying "What Money?!" And no I am NOT touting myself as the wonder of the world for my generosity and caring. I'm just trying to shed a little light on a subject, and know best what I have done in situations. You don't think what the ferret is going to cost you when you are a shelter parent. You take them in with no thought of the bills you might rack up. You think about whether it will cost the ferret its life, which is precious beyond all words. And so you do it "for the love of ferrets". just my perhaps not so humble 2 cents worth Kim Wolf Mystyx Samoyeds, Ferrets and Rescue of Galloway, Ohio www.mystyxcritters.com www.mystyxrescue.petfinder.org [Posted in FML issue 3693]