This from a friend, Debbie Scott, co-chair of the Tristate Ferret Connection: Ferrets are sent to shelters to be adopted for many reasons. The ferret is very seldom a problem animal and most often it is a problem with the owner or a landlord-tenant disagreement. In reality, ferrets taken to shelters are a sign, though, of owner concern for the animal. Adoptive ferrets are usually very docile and loving creatrues and may indeed be less trouble than a baby ferret or a pet store purchase. [Posted in FML issue 1185]