I forgot to include in my previous narrative this bit of information and, after emailing a few folks about this rescue off the FML, I decided to include the details just in case anyone else out there should ever, God forbid!, have this situation come up where they had to "do something" also. The federal laws will not allow anyone to record telephone conversations...however, you are allowed by law to tape record an active-live conversation. No, you don't have to notify them either. When I showed up at this creep's house, a tape recorder was going and I had already recorded date, time, location, and nature of recording. So, when the police arrived. I met them with the recording of this idiot admitting to the ferrets, cats (kittens), and snakes. This idiot at first denied everything but when the subject of money came up, the truth came out - enough so that the one officer told this guy that I had a tape recording of our conversation and, even though he did not have authority to arrest him, he URGED him to sell me the kittens and the ferrets and avoid possible criminal prosecution for animal cruelty and abuse since I had him on the record as admitting he was going to feed the ferrets to the snakes on Saturday (but he would not admit to having an audience nor would admit to using the kittens as bait). Both officers stayed with me to ensure the ferrets and kittens were surrendered once the money arrived. Both officers also surveyed the house and the snakes and were visibly appalled. I think that is the real reason they too wanted the kittens and the ferrets out of there - if this guy was not going to use the kittens and ferrets as bait for his, ugh snakes, then what were they there for? It was more than obvious to anyone that this guy was into snakes and clearly not a "warm and fuzzy" pet owner. He had no provisions for the ferrets or the kittens and kept the kittens in a small dog kennel and the ferrets in a large aquarium - probably used for a snake before the ferrets showed up. So, his story along with my recording proved this idiot was not being truthful. I have the officer's written report (this morning) and the recording and have approached Judge Potter (also this morning) with all of this and hope to not only work with state legislators but want this guy prosecuted for something and the snakes, well.....destroyed or relocated to a sanctuary for such creatures. Maren Doshier [Posted in FML 6382]