I have been out of communication for a little bit, trying to find out about my family who was down south when the hurricane hit. I finally breathe with a sigh of relief for the time being. They found shelter at the Hammond Airport (between New Orleans and Biloxi). The surrounding area is just devastated. They are hungry and thristy and there is only one phone that a few hundred can use and so it took them until last night to be able to talk. They are in tears just knowing that happened and how it is affecting them. The airport has electricity via a generator but it's not enough to run the AC properly and it's hot and sticky. All they can do now is sit and wait as the roads are torn apart and being that they don't know the area very well, it's hard to find back roads not torn up like the major roads. I haven't eaten or slept well since this all happened. I talked to them on Sunday afternoon and then not until yesterday. Too many days without knowing. I had a chance this morning to read the most recent posts. And though the following is not meant as a flame, just stating facts and how our shows are run. I have to ask the anon poster, do you have breeder or pet store ferrets? I ask because I didn't see that you listed what you had but the posts following mentions pet store vs. breeder. Depending on the show format, some prefer one over the other. Judges within LOS are taught the difference and to judge them as they are. So in Specialty, if it's a petstore ferret, the judge knows the structure may not be the same as breeder but if the maintenance is done and the color is correct, then either breeder or pet store ferret may win. Judges are taught that a breeder will have this type of structure and pet store will have this type of structure. We have a mix and usually it's about equal in the Specialty Rings. In Championship, we have rings such as Judge's Cup (for judge's ferrets), Kit (ferrets under a 1 year of age), Breedable Adult (for the breeder adults) and Alter Adult (for the alters (late and early alters), Senior (over 5 years), Handicap, About Perfect (slight imperfections), Royalty (1st place winners), Nobility (2nd and 3rd place winners). This because we want to make sure that the ferrets are competiting against others of like or similiar structure or stance. Also sometimes it's hard for first time showers to understand that in some formats and not just AFA, that the judge's ferrets may be competiting against your own in Championship Rings. This is not uncommon. In dog and cat shows (now I haven't shown in them but know others who have), the judge's compete with the other exhibitors. Our format took a different approach. We felt the judge's ferrets should be judged among ferrets of other judge's. Also at LOS shows, the ferrets are judged against a standard. Judges are to remain non-baised and are not take into account who the owner is. The ferret is being judged and even though the judge may not care for the owner, it is not revelant. The ferret is the one who deserves to win the ring. Past show winners were based on the ferret and how they meet the standard. Every ferret show has it's own set of rules and how they have it set up. It's always good to ask the show coordinator about their set up of rings and such. But again, you should check into the show and ask questions about the show rules. Each show has a different goal in mind and set up. Many take a dog and/or cat format but in our shows, we blended formats and applied them ferrets and how we saw that it would benefit the domestic ferret. Our shows are to help improve the standard of the ferret. Ferrets change with season and as they age. I am sure we have all looked at our ferrets and wondered what they thought when they blew their coats or changed colors. Well it happens and so they should be a common variance with shows, like for example in the Spring and Fall, they coats will be opposite in some cases. Short during Spring and Summer and Long during Winter and Fall. But again, to anon, perhaps you should contact the show coordinator of the Ohio show and ask her these questions directly. Though I understand why the anon, so no flames can be sent personally or whatever the reason or didn't want anyone to know you were. However, i feel that really some of those comments would be best sent directly to the show coordinator as to not attempt to infringe or damage a show's reputation. I understand how AFA feels and I also feel that it's best to send such comments directly and if you wish to post after you received your answers, that would be your choice. But you didn't leave a way to contact you directly, so there isn't a way that AFA can contact you and help alleviate any problems or concerns you may have. As a show coordinator myself, I would ask the same of you. I would want to know what is that I can improve upon. [Posted in FML issue 4988]