Could someone explain why people "report" stores to places that can't do a thing about conditions, or are all noise and no action? That always confuses me. Plus, even if they could do something the fact that all they have is hearsay effectively would tie their hands. In some states there ARE ways to alter conditions. Steve and I have used them in NJ. For exotics whose permits are controlled by FG&W in NJ report store violations there. I don't know if these reports are currently being handled in the Trenton office or the northern one in the 908 area code which handled our complaint and which still also handles shelter permits still, I think. For non-exotics your state legislator's office will be able to help you find the right office to control licenses on that score. Having a vet send a letter on hospital stationery is especially useful; that is what we did when we found that one store had coccidia which it was refusing to treat. The upshot is that the state required the store to place all of its ferrets, cats, and dogs, and then banned it from carrying them for 6 months. I would suspect that photographic evidence could be useful but tricky to get. If you get it hold up a newspaper with the date next to the photo and do NOT have it be a digital photo since those can be altered too easily. (You know, the same level of documentation you want when moving into and out of an apartment with a questionable landlord, or when having a cut-rate computer or auto "repair" place get their hands on your machine.) For a store in a chain report to the headquarters if you plan on reporting a store and why, and let them know that you are aware of the state laws. You would be amazed at what some chains will improve to avoid trouble. In the meantime since that store was selling MFs but had them in a small aquarium we also reported the store to MF which then refused to sell to them until they upgrading to better housing conditions fro the ferrets. Please, notice that it pays for any people here who are annoyed about the conditions of any pet store in their state, or have gotten a sick one directly from a pet store to ask their state legislator's offices what the state requires. In NJ there are standards and there is a vet care provision for sick ones who have been purchased. If you are in a state without such laws then work on getting them for your state. If animal lovers in your state have already gotten such legislation passed then use the laws which exist since in some states they do have teeth. Besides, the teeth on such laws get sharper with use because seeing them used on other stores scares ones which otherwise might violate into behaving better. [Posted in FML issue 4815]