Here is a copy of an email I sent Gail concerning extremely young baby ferrets. If you have anything to add to this subject please email Gail. Subj: Baby Ferrets Date: 7/3/2002 To: [log in to unmask] Gail I'm sure you have heard all the horror stories about the very, very young ferrets that are being shipped all over the country. Here is my personal story and it needs to be passed on to those that make up the rules and regulations at the USDA. I have a friend who owns a pet store in the Detroit area and he routinly sells ferrets. These ferrets all come from the same breeder. On numerous occasions he has received baby ferrets that are incapable of eating solid food. Since he has a number of pet ferrets himself, he is very knoledgable of them. When he receives these little ones, he hand feeds then a sort of gruel made up of soaked ferret food. He goes through this proceedure until the baby ferrets are eating solid food on their own. He will not sell them or even display them until they are able to eat on their own. I applaud him for the care he gives these extremely young ferrets. I know they are less than 6 or 7 weeks old since the have the baby canines as well as the adult canine teeth. The USDA needs to enact such rules, that are necessary, to prevent ferret breeders for dumping these poor under age, little ones into conditions that adult animals find hard to cope with. Very heavy fines have to be assesed those that act in a manner that endangers the young ferret life. Win and the 8 rescues and 1 store purchased fettet that call me their care-giver. [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 3840]