First off, I'm new to this list, so I'd like to say Hi to all. Second, my wife and I have decided to start looking for a new ferret. We're quite familiar with the little beasties, having owned 2 for several years. However, we would prefer to buy our next one from a breeder rather than any of the local pet shops. While at least one of them still sell ferrets, and has actually offered to order us the male we prefer, I have some niggling doubts... First off, they aren't locally provided - the shop orders them from a breeder "out west." As it turns out, this means out in the western USA (we're in Canada) and apparently they can't be brought into the country unless they've been neutered, etc. This means that they've been altered before they're 6 weeks old. I feel that this is far too early, and that they won't darken to their best markings. I'm not sure if this is a fact, but I have read it in one of the books we bought back when we got our first. What I would prefer to do is locate a breeder in our area, and I thought that this might be the place to start looking. Does anyone have any info on breeders in the Hamilton/St. Catharines/Niagara Falls area of Ontario, Canada? **************************************************************** * C. Hanlon [log in to unmask] * * The opinions expressed above don't have to make sense, they're mine * * * **************************************************************** [Posted in FML issue 1148]