Hi all, It is ridiculous I think for Petsmart to be selling ferrets. For one, they won't be much better than Petco about their sale of ferrets I am sure. I bought my first two ferrets from Petco, and they "had no idea what breeder they came from" (the certificate I got with them didn't say either), had no information to give me, but instead referred me to books they sold, and obviously didn't socialize them. My first ferret (I got the second a month later) was sweet, well, more likely stressed out, he slept on my lap the first night and has never since. I didn't know what kind of diet was best, I didn't know what kind of bedding was best, I didn't know that they end up with all kinds of health issues, and even after learning these things, no thanks to them, I'm up to 7 ferrets- loving it and teaching others about ferrets. Two more bought at a mall pet store who cared even worse for them (which is why I took them when I was strapped for cash), one at another mall's pet store (he was lonely by himself), and two more from a rescue (quite possibly the sweetest of my 7.) I recently went into another Petco (I moved and so changed stores), and asked to hold the ferrets, not that I could afford any more, but I wanted to see if they seemed socialized, and I wanted to make sure that they got at least a few minutes out of their aquarium like cage. They bit and people walking by asked about them, and the employee volunteered very little information, so I told them about phases as a kit, and when they asked about life span and such I educated them on different and expensive diseases that they can get, but I also told them what a joy they can be and told them that there are tons of rescues with ferrets who aren't old and sick, some young ones, and some a bit older that don't nip...(these people had kids, and I figured it had to be better than Petco, and at least they could get better education at a shelter, and be screened before taking in a ferret). The employee just looked at me. The manager came up to me to thank me for playing with the ferrets and told me that they have a ferret club that comes in every week to play with them. So I left. I wonder just how much more Petsmart will be able to educate people. I agree, they should have the same policy that they have for cats and dogs. Jennifer [Posted in FML issue 4694]