Hi, Both of my fuzzies came from petstores and I wouldn't trade them for all of the shelter ferrets in the world. Zen was an owner surrender and came from a local petstore which doesn't care for their animals properly. He came home with me on 8-3-08. I was told by the manager that Zen was only a year old but I highly doubt that because he was just diagnosed with insulinoma last Tuesday. Lillie was purchased from PETCO on 10-17-08. I felt guilty that I had supported a ferret mill by purchasing a kit rather than adopting from a shelter, but I couldn't just leave her there in that filthy enclosure to an uncertain fate. They stole my heart as soon as I held them. Please don't feel guilty about your decision to purchase rather than adopt a ferret. It shouldn't matter where people get their pets, just as long as they're loved and well taken care of. Randie [Posted in FML 6237]