Well, actually, the USDA doesn't inspect petstores. Petstores fall under different agencies. The USDA regulates very few things, but those things affect a lot of ferrets. It does NOT regulate private breeders (unless they happen to sell to retail stores instead of to individuals, but almost none do that) and it does not regulate petstores. I don't know that it would help to mention common ferret medical problems except for those which have known causes in farm conditions or breeding choices, and that can not be said for sure for many of ferrets' ills. The USDA regulates farms -- large establishments -- and those who sell to the retail market. It regulates their distributors and their transport. It also regulates a few things that most folks here will have nothing to do with like animals' conditions in traveling circuses/acts. It really pays to stick to things which can be changed and can be inspected: making sure that the kits are 8 weeks or over (easily established just by checking teeth), making sure that the farm conditions are safe ones which protect ferrets from temperature extremes, weather, other species or their diseases, etc. with enough room and stimulation for reasonable exercise and mental health, making sure that kits in transport are safe with enough water and food, dry bedding, and not subjected to heat stroke, to crushing, to toxic chemical spills from other containers, to being frozen by dry ice used for some shipments, etc. The USDA is far from all-powerful, but ferret specific standards at the USDA/APHIS will apply powerful brakes to some of the most frustrating problems our community encounters over and over again. We just need enough feedback to APHIS. That way several dreams we have all shared for years will come true for the ferrets in our nation. All it takes is a letter for each person here who cares about ferrets. See: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/ edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-15516.pdf Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 04-088-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 04-088-1. See also: http://www.ferretcongress.org/ Be polite; these people can be our best allies in saving ferrets. [Posted in FML issue 4972]