Lori, Congratulations on your new baby and good for you for rescuing her! I have a PetCo I regularly go to that, luckily, takes excellent care of their animals. I've bought three ferrets from them ( all at different times) and, personally, have no qualms about it. Those babies need a good home, too! Another one of my ferrets, Milo, came from a privately owned exotic pet store. This one I consider a true rescue. He was starving and had a prolapsed rectum (the pet store owner told me that was normal -- grrrr). I think, no matter where one gets their ferret - a pet store, a breeder, a shelter - really doesn't matter. They all need loving homes. Some people are against pet store ferrets and the "big" breeders, like Marshalls. I think reality tells us that Marshalls isn't gonna quit breeding and selling ferrets to pet stores and pet stores will continue to sell the ferrets. Sad, but true. I'm not advocating this at all. It's just the way it is and it isn't those poor little ferret's fault they ended up in a tank in PetCo. I think the best we can do is speak out when we see the animals in jeapordy. I did call the Houston SPCA on another PetCo, where the ferrets were in a similar condition you describe. It got fixed. (I think some heads rolled, too) I don't know what the answer is. I personally don't think "boycotting" these stores will do a thing to stop them from selling small animals. I think the best we can do is keep a watchful eye out and speak out when we see something wrong. And try to educate anyone who will listen. Best of luck with your new baby! I just got a new baby, too, (from PetCo) - a cinnamon I call Bailey! Visit me on FACEBOOK! Search for Susan M. Baker Read About My Life With Ferrets on My Blog! The Ferret Factor at: http://friskybiznus.blogspot.com/ [Posted in FML 6584]