I know I am going to get flamed for this but I think what Joshua was trying to say is that just because someone doesn't smoke doesn't mean there are not health issues. First of all, where does the air inside come from? Um let's see .... outside. I know most of you know had to add but I had to make that point clear. Second the air in you house is 200 to 500 times more toxic the the air outdoors. Almost all the chemicals that person listed that are in cigarettes are already in you house at higher quantities. If you cook on a stove you produce as much carcinogens as smoking a cigarette. So I guess we shouldn't adopt to anyone who cooks. Also having a furnace in your house can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning so I guess you can not heat you house either. After all you could kill everybody with that including your pets. Since the majority of the population doesn't get their heating and air conditioning checked to help prevent it and have their heat exchanger checked for leaks, you shouldn't adopt to them either. Oh, and let's not forget changing filters every 30 days, unless you have a honey well hepa filtration system which is every two - three months, or an april aire hepa filtration system which is once a year. People think that if they buy the regular pleated filters at the store that says up to 90 days, they can change it at the frequency. Nope still needs to be changed every thirty days since it restricts air flow and can cause you system to break down. So I think I have eliminated at least 70% off the population of ferret owners and potential ferret owners. Now lets think how can we disqualify everyone else. If you have any other pets you are out, since they can transmit diseases to each other. If you own kids that's out since they tend to be more susceptible to viruses which can be transmitted to your ferrets. Oh and you can't go out doors either since you could possibly catch the flu and give it to your ferrets. Also anyone who gives their ferrets raisins is out since they are known to be toxic, as well as anyone who feeds their ferret kibble since that can cause teeth and other health issues. Anyone who uses artificial light is out since that can contribute to adrenal disease. Anyone who would possibly let their ferret even kiss them after they have ice cream or give them sugary treats is out since that can cause insulinoma. Of course taking your ferret outside is completely out of the question being that you have to drive a car to get to the vet and just the danger for them being outside, for instance escaping, getting bitten by a tick or mesquito, or possibly licking anti-freeze off the ground. Oh, and finally if you have ever given up an animal for any reason, you are definitely out. Now that I have officially eliminated every single person on the planet from owning a ferret I will get to my point. I guess what I am upset at is that people are attacking and assuming. You know what they say about assuming right? It makes and a__ out of you and me. I think generalizing is what always gets humanity into trouble and starts wars. That is the reason why Native Americans live on reservations, we had the holocaust, the civil war, and even 9/11, as well as numerous other incidences. If you assume that just because someone smokes that makes them a bad parent with out asking questions it just makes you ignorant. You could be missing out on great potential parents to ferrets. Meanwhile you could be adopting to some horrible non-smokers. After all just because you don't smoke doesn't mean you are going to take care of a ferret properly. How many people give up their pets because they are moving? I am sorry but the excuse of I can't find a place doesn't excuse it. I have traveled across the country with pets, it may mean my rent is higher but they are family. I am certainly not going to leave immediate family behind so why my pets? I have seen numerous people post that they adopted a pet but can't afford to take them to the vet when they are sick, and these are just a few issues.Also if you are going to discriminate be complete across the board, don't take donations from them either. After all there is a name for people who take but don't give. Be honest and say I do not adopt to these people and I do not except donations from them either. I have never seen this clause in any post asking for money. In the end are you really stopping them? They can always go to a non-discriminating pet store. I think the point is educate, ask questions, and please don't generalize. After all we don't want to start a ferret war. Below are links to back up the facts I stated above and other ones on ferret illnesses you can easily look up by searching the Internet. http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/household/carcinogens_home.htm http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html#Intro1 http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/communications/CO/co_cases.html http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/bcooking.pdf [Moderator's note: Clearly, at least to me, you are using these facts in an attempt to underscore your belief that smokers should not face discrimination regarding ferret/pet ownership. Points taken, but there are counterpoints which can be made as well. So what we need to be careful about in the FML is that there's a real tendency this dialog will turn into a heated debate about smokers vs. non-smokers. That is WAY off-topic and will lead nowhere. If you want to confine arguments to ferrets, fine, but overly general pro-/anit-smoking posts will be returned. BIG] [Posted in FML issue 5032]