It seems these days that Petco is the big bad wolf of the ferret community. Marshall Farms is perhaps the cowardly lion. But Peta is hardly the Wizard of Oz or the valiant woodcutter. I've read the articles, I've read the posts, I've even read the flames, though I tended to skip right past a whole lot of completely unimportant stuff that was purely related to two people's dislike for each other, and I was left trying very hard to sift out what is fact from what is spite. It seems to me that in that situation, no one is being helped by either party, if the newbie, who has as yet been unexposed to the arguments for all sides has to figure out for themselves what is true amongst all that. I coudn't even do it, and I've heard it all before. But that is beside the point. The point is this: Wanting Petco to stop selling animals is an honorable effort, but an opinion which is not even shared by the entire FML, let alone the entire ferret community, let alone the public at large. What this means is, there will always be someone who shops at Petco, and there will always be someone who buys animals there. We are all consumers, and have every right to decide to do these things, and have every justification for wanting to. I prefer Petco to Petsmart because of their selection and location. These things are common decision makers for consumers. Also, the idea that Peta proposes...first of all, laboratory sales are another of those issues that are purely a matter of opinion. I support the sales of animals to laboratories who perform medical testing. Flame me if you will, but as a former biology major, I know how important it is. Plus, if we do as Peta suggests, and demand that Petco buy their ferrets from other suppliers, we run into the problem of WHO. None of the big farms are much better than Marshall, and then we run the risk of supporting the dreaded backyard breeder. And if you want to know the truth, I've heard as many complaints on the FML of small, "ma and pop" pet stores who are FAR worse than Petco, how do we as consumers, who boycott what is, at least in my area, a decent, clean store, full of knowledgable and helpful staff, decide what pet store in our area we should patronize? What if none of them are any good? The problems surmount any concern for animals. There is no solution. For my money, I'd go for changing legislation to better protect the animals which will inevitably be sold, and stop wasting my time trying to convince a company who's numbers say otherwise, that selling animals is a problem. Melissa Kuzara Mira, Tasha, Robin, Nietzsche, Samurai and O'Dell Missing Cael and Booboo always [Posted in FML issue 3857]