[2-part post combined. BIG] Today I want to share something with you....some good news I guess. This past weekend my friends, Shawn and John went to Tucson, AZ (we are about 60 miles from there) to go to PetsMart and buy a new cage. While we were down there we wanted to check out some of the pet places. We went to 3 of them. Here is what I saw: Animal Kingdom (Tucson Mall on Oracle Road) - When we walked in the first thing that I saw were a lot of people working there. They had merchandise (stuffed animals and other novelty things) up at the front, then the small animals, then dogs in the back. The puppies in the back seemed to be "happy" and they even had a small holding area in the room where they had a little puppy that had a football and he was playing with the kids there. We went to the ferrets and saw that there were two cages. There were 3 ferrets in one and 4 in the other one. Since they came in about two weeks apart they didn't want to put the older ones with the new ones. We asked to hold one of them. The first thing the employee did was ask us if we knew anything about ferrets. Shawn said "a little, but what can you tell me about them" The employee told us A LOT about ferrets. I was really impressed. He also recommended that we get the Ferrets for Dummies book. Their price also included another vet visit once you purchase the ferret. The ferrets are handled by the employees and get a lot of play time. Their cage was square with wood shavings on the bottom. They had a litter box, food, water, and some toys to play with. While holding the ferrets you could tell that they were well taken care of and handled a lot. The next store was PetCo on Oracle Road. I have to say, I was also impressed with this store...though this one has a twist.... The new tanks that PetCo is using is a little better. They are larger and the window starts lower. There is also a couple vents at the bottom for airflow. Though I wish they had a place that you could put levels on it and places for them to sleep. The tank was clean! The ferrets (4 of them) were friendly and didn't try to kill us to get out. Their nails were a little long but not bad. The twist comes because the sales clerk there was talking with a customer who wanted a ferret and they didn't know anything about them. He tried to answer some questions and wasn't too sure. So, they asked us....well, lets just say that they walked out of there with the Ferrets for Dummies book, the best food, treats, hammock, carrier, several other things and of course a wonderful ferret. We gave her our shelter card and told her to call if she had questions or problems. We explained the good and the bad about the ferrets. She asked a lot of questions and we were happy to help. I held their ferret and checked him out...then put him on the ground and you know what he did? War Danced and POOFED! He was just real friendly and very cute. After she left the store clerk came back and asked for our card. He also said that he would read that book that we suggested. He seemed very happy and also interested. The last store that we went to was another PetCo on Broadway and Craycroft (Tucson, AZ). Now, I have been in this store many times and have never been happy with it. Today was no different. We got there about 30 minutes before they were closing. After looking in on the ferrets in the old tank, I asked to have someone open the cage. There were about 6 ferrets in the tank. Their was NO food, the bottom of the tank had a lot of poop in it. What they had done was just put more bedding on top of the poop so they didn't have to clean the tank. They ferrets were all just laying there. One little albino girl was curled up in a ball that they had (only other thing in the tank beside "food" bowl and water bottles). Finally someone came over to open the door after I went up and asked again. He opened it and then just stepped back. I opened the door and went to reach in when I got a HORRIBLE smell. I held my breath while I reached in to pull out the albino girl to check on her. She was missing fur on one of her shoulder blades. I am assuming it was from playing/fighting. The area was about as big as my thumb nail. She was also a little thin but not too bad. She seemed scared when I picked her up and tried to bite me. I put her down and she walked around a little. I did this with several of the ferrets. They were all very bitey and were jumping to get out of the tank. I asked the clerk that was "helping" us if they clip their nails. He said he didn't believe so but had NO CLUE. (I have asked this before of them and got several different answers) Shawn went and got clippers from another clerk and I started clipping nails. Another employee came over and VERY rudely told me that I had to stop what I was doing and that I wasn't allowed to do that. She never once said that she would ensure that their nails were clipped - she left. While we were standing there we asked the first clerk about their food...he said that he was just about to do that when we came in (yeah right...they were closing and having a meeting). He filled one food bowl and wet it down. We asked him if he wanted the other bowl to fill and he said they only fill one with food. The other one they leave in there for them to play with. They shut the cage and the ferrets were all running to eat the food. I couldn't leave. I couldn't stop thinking about that little girl and all of the others. I was mad. Now, when I am mad I don't talk nicely...Shawn knows this so he came back inside to "help". I asked one manager for the PetCo business card and then asked who I would need to talk to in reference to the ferrets. She introduced me to Mike Gavin, Store Manager. I explained that this was the worst of the stores that I had seen today and was very upset with it. We walked with him over to the tank and explained everything. He seemed generally concerned and annoyed that the tank hadn't been cleaned as it should have been. I pointed out that the little white girl might not be eating enough and was being beaten up by the others. We talked for about 30 minutes. In July we (the shelter) will be teaching a class at the PetCo store. In talking with Mr. Gavin I did find out that he thought they were shipped at 12 weeks (which I explained was most likely wrong) and that they don't get out of that tank unless they are cleaning it. No one really works with them though they do have 2 people that have more ferret knowledge than the others. I explained that one time I was there an employee told a customer that ferrets stink....it was a customer interested in the ferrets too! Anyways, I will let you all know what happens with this class and hopefully with improvements at the store. I am not close enough to check on them every week but I will do it once a month. I am also going to start up a check list and do that for each store. One thing that PetCo needs to change is their description on the ferret. They list them as being night animals....maybe they could say "adjustable". Joanne Ruffner Ferret Corner Shelter www.geocities.com/ferretcorneraz [Posted in FML issue 3825]