Hi. I don't know if I'm overreacting or not, but recently a new pet shop opened up in the mall around here and they are carrying ferrets. The problem is that they are a rather small store, in competition with a large, well-stocked place practically right next door. The larger store constantly has new batches of baby ferrets coming in who are totally sold off by the end of a week, whereas this smaller store has had the same two ferrets for about two- three months now, keeping them constantly in a smallish cage. Every time I go in and visit them, I feel so sad for them, particularly because they are males, half-grown and still with a habit of nipping, which does not really make them as desirable as the tiny kits that come into the other store on a constant basis. I am left wondering if anyone will ever buy these guys and give them a good home, and what will happen to them if no one does. I don't know how long this store can stay in business- I certainly don't know about its sales, but most people don't seem to know it exists, and, even if they do, they choose to patronize the larger store. Certainly, I don't think people in the market for ferrets would think to look for them there, and even if they did, would probably choose to just go a block further to the other store and get a fresh, innocent-looking kit. My question is this-- I am not in a situation where I can buy these guys and give them a home, although goodness knows I'd like to, but what can I do for them? I worry about them a lot, and the girl at the counter doesn't seem to have any insight into their possible fate if not bought, so I imagine horrible things. I don't know. I am in Western Mass, in the Amherst/Hadley/Northampton area, so if there are other ferret folks around here who feel qualified to help me figure this out, please let me know. I mean, what happens to these sweet little guys if they don't get sold????? Thanks, Eva [Posted in FML issue 1877]