Hi, I too, am new to FML (I'm also new to AOL, so please forgive my errors). First, I'd like to introduce my household. Myself, Tracy, my husband, Mark, 3 children, Andrea (12), Ryan (10) and Sean (3), 3 dogs, Nikki (6), Brandi (6),and Mac (2), 2 cats, Tiger (7), and Mittens (5) and 1 Iguana, Demon (about 1 year old). The only ferret we have ever owned died recently. Kit, named by my then 9 year old son, came to us from a man who said that he was afraid that his cats were going to kill her. She became a part of the family from the moment she entered our home. Kit was very well mannered, rarely bit(even when playing), used her litter box, snuggled with everyone. We miss her terribly. I still find myself checking before I close doors or empty the clothes hamper. It seems we just discovered the joys of being owned by Kit only to lose her. Our problem is location. We would like to get 2 ferrets and don't know where to go. My husband is in the Air Force and we are currently stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. I have met only one other ferret owner in the year that we have lived here. There are 2 pet stores in Grand Forks (a fairly large city for ND) only one of them sells ferrets. The store is dirty all the time, the ferrets are kept in a glassed in cage and the floor shavings (which I've heard cause respiratory problems in ferrets) is always caked with poop, they have no food or water in the cage. I hesitate to purchase a ferret from this store but they are so cute and I feel so bad for the poor little things. Does anyone know of an alternative, maybe a shelter or breeder within a 75 mile radius of Grand Forks? We are located near the western border of Minnesota. I'd appreciate any information that anybody could give. Thanks. [Posted in FML issue 1578]