I have an awful story to tell. My daughter and I were in a pet store this Sunday buying supplies for our 3 beautiful boys. I was getting ready to check out and a gentleman behind me said oh do you have ferrets? I said yes we have 3. He said well we had 2 ferrets but we had to put them to sleep. I said oh my where they that sick that they couldn't be helped? He said well they started to nip people and wouldn't stop. I said what??? You put them to sleep for biting? He said well he called petco and told them they were losing hair and biting and he claims they told him the ferrets had distemper. I said you mean to tell me they didnt have a distemper shot. He said well no. I said all animals need distemper and rabies shots always. He said well we didnt know. I said you have a dog here (he had brought his lab with him to the store) does she have her shots. He said well yes and I said well why didnt your ferrets have their shots? I said losing hair and biting is not distemper its adrenal disease which can be cured! I said distemper is a horrible horrible way for a ferret to die and it sure doesnt sound like they had distemper! I said did your vet do tests on them because how could any vet put any animal to sleep without knowing whats wrong with it. He said well I didnt take them to the vet, petco told me they had distemper and I took them to the SPCA and had them put to sleep there. I said why didnt you try to contant a ferret shelter in your area or take them to a knowledgeable vet? He said well we didnt know. He said I would have paid for the surgery for the adrenal disease. I said well its too late now! I was so upset I wanted to just slap him silly but I kept my cool. I said those ferrets could have lived a longer life with the proper treatment. He said well we have a large cage do I want it. I said I didnt but I gave him Oxford Ferret Rescue's number to call. I said I'm glad you wont have any more ferrets. As we were leaving his girlfriend grabbed me and said to me their family didnt know anthing about ferrets thats why they didnt get vaccinated and they did love the ferrets and took care of them. I said well if you love your pets you must take them to the vet and you must vaccinate your pets no matter what kind you have. I said ferrets are wonderful animals, they are companion animals just like a dog or cat and they should be treated like that. She said yes we know and we wish we would have met you a few weeks ago. I said please dont get any more ferrets and contact a local shelter to give them your cage. Muldoone, I dont know these ferrets' names but find them and help them to understand that their humans did love them but didnt know any better. Make sure they have lots of friends and are happy at the rainbow bridge. Sandee, please pray for these ferrets and pray for humans who have ferrets to become educated about these wonderful animals so maybe this kind of thing wont keep happening. Lisa [Posted in FML issue 4587]