A friend of mine in Ohio came across a Panda Ferret at a small animal auction. (panda is a coloring pattern for anyone who didnt know..). I have stated that I would like to have a panda..so she picked her up for me. Ferret is 5 months old. she said at the auction kids were shaking her cage and blowing on her and the ferret was terrified and the kids family were bidding on her. Friend decided we HAD to have this ferret... lol. BUT sometime in all this a three year old stuck his finger into the cage..we know what happened here. CHOMP...yes she bit him..not a big bite..a small bite but a bite. Friend did not know this..completed sale and takes scared ferret home and lets me know she has my Panda ferret that I have wanted for awhile. Health dept shows up a few days later..wanting ferret over "the bite"... its not a pet they claim (then WHAT IS IT???) and want to send the head in for testing. Friend refuses... they mad leave ..she tells them it IS a pet and is coming to ME. Ferret has no vaccination papers , being only 5 months old that doesnt really surprise me.... They are fighting with her (friend who bought her) ..the ferret shows no signs of being sick and is in a temporary quarantine at friends house for 10 days.. And they want its TEETH CUT!!! (???) I guess this is better than dead. Ya got to wonder why a three year old was wandering around a small animal auction...any small or large animal for that fact un accompanied or unwatched by a parent or adult. Any animal can freak out in a situation like this. Now the ferret will probably end up paying the extreme cost. Oh..what about the SELLER you may ask ..isnt HE really responsible..he said..oh just go pick it up..what does he care. I am not signing this name for ferret will hopefully survive this and come live with me and my two adoptive girls. And she may just slip over the border to us in a sly weasly way ... of course she is going to get vaccinated before crosing any borders or home thresholds.. but isnt this a bizare and sad event. ~just had to share~ [LF] [Posted in FML issue 3960]