I take each family case by case. I've adopted several ferrets to a family with a daughter who was around two the first time I adopted to them, and is now six (or is it seven?). She grew up with the ferrets, and is very respectful of them. I've adopted to quite a few others with younger kids as well. Previously ownership of a ferret is going to give them a leg up for sure. I've also refused to adopt to people who had kids, because the kid were flipping BANSHEES! They didn't follow my rules--always sit on the floor when holding a ferret, don't stickfingers in cages, etc. and didn't listen to their parents either. I also refuse to adopt to anyone who calls and says they "Want to get a pet for their kid to teach them responsibility". I tell them a ferret isn't a good "starter pet", explain the amount of care they require, tell them about vet bills. Almost everytime the parent ends up saying "Wow! I didn't know that. What would you suggest then?" and depending on the conversation I either suggest waiting or getting a short haired guinea pig. I take each person case by case, regardless of the kids. I've refused to adopt to more people without kids than with kids. I'm more leery of adopting to a 16 year old than a family with a six year old. I always think with the sixteen year old, what's going to happen to the ferret in two years when they go to college? Not to say I won't do it, it really depends on the parents and their attitude. The population segment that I almost always refuse right off is the pregnant couple who are getting ready for their first human kid. I always tell them I'd love to adopt to them after the baby is born and they've had a little time to adjust to familyhood. When I follow up a couple months after the baby has been born, almost always they say they can't handle the ferret at that time, the baby is too time consuming. (Yup!) Anne [Posted in FML issue 3716]