Couple things about South Carolina: There is a show coming up in South Carolina in January. Should be the 13th if things don't change. It is going to be sanctioned by the AFA. We'll be there - I might even judge something. Health certificates come from veterinarians. Veterinarians don't have any limits against against this that I know of. I will check with the people in South Carolina that will get this problem fixed. You are allowed to adopt shelter ferrets or giveaway ferrets in South Carolina so this just doesn't make sense. Write to us off the list and I'll see whats going on with your veterinarian in SC. Diane asked about fat ferrets: Hold your ferret but the shoulders letting the body hang. If theere are any bulges below the rib cage you have a fat ferret. The body should be basically tube shaped. Mike asked about altering older ferrets: Among the breeders I work with it is common practice to retire their breeding jills and hobs after their third breeding season (about 4 years old). They are then altered. Simon asked about a lethargic ferret: Losing a 'room mate' ferret could cause a ferret to be depressed and cause the extra sleepiness. Funniest thing I ever saw one of my ferrets steal: One halloween for some reason I got a Perot latex mask. One of my ferrets, Dakota, decided that the mask belonged in a particular closet. She never put anything else in that closet but THAT mask belonged in THAT closet. It was amusing seeing the mask that dwarfed the ferret go sliding across the floor into the closet. bill and diane killian zen and the art of ferrets [Posted in FML issue 1372]