My ferret, Pixel, is from a pet store. Our experience with the store was quite positive. When we decided that we wanted a ferret I went to the library and looked up every pet store from Las Vegas-Flagstaff-Yuma. I found that the Vegas stores where grossly more expensive ($300 vs. $110 to $180). The store I finally decided to patronize was called the Pet Stop in Yuma Arizona. The store sold ferrets for $130, which included leash, ferretone, 5lb of food, discount coupons for more food, and a handful of ferret care info. The deciding factor was that the store also offered a gurantee that we would have a healthy ferret, money-back if the ferret developed any illness in the 1st 6 months. The act of offering a gurantee is probably a good indication that the store takes care of the animals. The ferrets and the store was clean, and they had a financial stake in keeping it that way. I believe that attempts to ban or regular ferret sales is a danger to the legal status of ferrets. Regulation, txation, permits, and licenses are a popular way to ban things without actually banning them. Here in Los Angeles the Pot Bellied Pig owners fought a long battle to legalize ownership of the pigs. When then finally convinces that Department of Building & Safety that the pigs where not livestock, and therefore legal pets the city immediately start talking about Pot Bellied Pig Licenses at $400.00 per year per pig. Regulation of ferret sales could become a defacto ban by driving the cost of ferrets up to the point where only a few people can afford them. Brad [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1585]