Pam, I'm not Dawn, but I have been showing since 1997 and I am a judge. >is unfamiliar with the process. I have never been to a ferret show :( >Here in California) but I do know that it is a standard and acceptable >practice for an animal to attend a show without the owner having to be While this is true in other species (I have shown horses & dogs before), it is not the norm with ferret shows. At ferret shows, rarely is an "agent" or "handler" used and if they are used, it is someone that is very well known by the owner and familiar with the ferrets in question. And even then, it's not common practice. Ferret shows are fun for the exhibitors; the ferrets couldn't care less about the ribbons & trophies. So what is the point of sending your ferret off to a show if you can't attend with them to play the raffle, check out the vendors and (hopefully) accept a ribbon and/or trophy with your ferret? The potential for problems in handing off your ferret to someone that you don't know are great. There is a reason why Ferrets Across America has an interview process & reference check for all their drivers and requirements of ADV testing & vaccination for the ferrets. >the pet shop ferret mills. Any well socialized, happy, and healthy >ferret would not suffer "Stress" by attending a ferret show. Indeed Actually, shows can be stressful for some ferrets, even moreso if they don't have a familiar person handling them. I know that shows are stressful to me, even though I love them :) People are going to do what they want, but I personally wouldn't be comfortable handing off my ferrets to someone I don't know just to get them to a show for a chance at a ribbon. If I can't go, my ferrets don't go. Just my $0.02 worth. Mary ***************************** Mary McCarty-Houser Director, Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Assn of Centre Cty www.ferretrescue.com [Posted in FML issue 4638]