(Bill, I apologize for this being long and hope you can fit it in. I want to get all pertinent facts in one place.) Laurie, who helps at the North Coast Ferret Shelter, had been visiting the ferrets in the pet shop since August. There were 3 females and 2 males, about 2-3 months old. They did not sell right away, and slowly got more and more nippy and wild. They were obviously not being handled well enough to learn proper behavior. Laurie offered to take the worst, the 3 females, home to try to train them. Judy, the pet shop owner readily agreed. About a month and many bites later, Laurie returned them. They were now well behaved. The grateful owner asked Laurie to try to litter train the 2 males. So they went home with her for a couple weeks and were dutifully returned to the store (they needed nip training too). Shortly after that, Laurie noticed that one of the males, Bear, had ear mites and possible ear infection. Judy, not wanting to pay any veterinary bills, gave him up to the shelter so he could be treated. On Nov 21, Jerry went to the pet shop. He had adopted 2 ferrets from our shelter a couple weeks earlier, and was looking for a DEW. One of the females at the shop fit that description, so we suggested he check there. The owner was away on vacation, so an employee showed the ferrets to Jerry. When the employee opened the cage, one of the ferrets lunged for her, and was viciously knocked to the floor. The employee then roughly shook the sleep sack to dump the DEW out, and handed her to Jerry. Jerry promply got nailed between the thumb and forefinger. He berated the employee for her mishandling of the ferrets and left the store in pain. He called the shelter and told us what had happened. The next day Laurie went in to find out what had happened. Brenda the employee admitted to the incident, but hadn't yet told Keith, who was apparently in charge in the owner's absence. When Keith found out, he was very upset and concerned that Jerry might want to sue for the bite. He was planning on buying the store and didn't need this kind of problem. What what it take, he asked Laurie, to placate Jerry? The next day Laurie came back with Jerry's suggestion: turn the ferrets over to the shelter so good homes can be found for them and he will agree not to sue. Laurie and Keith wrote up a release of ownership for all 4 remaining ferrets which he signed as store manager. On Monday Nov 24, Judy returned. She was not happy that Keith had given up the ferrets, and called Laurie demanding their immediate return and threatening to go to the police if she didn't. Concerned about how they would be treated if taken back, and convinced she had lawfully acquired them, Laurie said no. Laurie immediately called me, I immediately called our attorney, Lisa Waltz, and Lisa called Judy to try to work things out. Judy refused to discuss the matter with Lisa, claiming to have her own attorney, whose name she would not give to Lisa. Lisa followed up with a letter the next day, again asking for her attorney's name or that Judy give her attorney Lisa's name. On Tuesday, about 1 hour before I was leaving town for almost 2 weeks, I got a call from the police. Judy was there filing a theft report. The officer tried to cajole and then bully me into agreeing to return the ferrets. I told him the ferrets had been lawfully released to us. Judy apparently claimed Keith had no authority and was not even an employee. I told the officer I would not do anything without consultin my attorney, and as I was leaving in 30 minutes for 2 weeks, it would have to wait. On Mon Dec 1 (or thereabouts, I'm a little fuzzy on this date), we were told that the matter had been turned over to the Elyria prosecutor's office, but the complaint had not yet been signed by Judy. So we watied. On Friday Dec 12, I received a short but threatening letter from Judy's attorney in Columbus. From the letter, it was clear Judy had not told him the full story. (By the way, in that letter, Keith is referred to as a "sales associate". On Monday Dec 15, Lisa sent a 3 1/2 page letter to the Columbus atty, laying out the full story and suggesting that his threats were hollow and that if Judy is not happy with Keith's decision, she should pursue the matter with him. (Lisa has consulted with several other prosecutors and attorneys who agree we are on firm legal ground.) This morning we learned that the complaint had been signed. The prosecutor's office gave us until 4:30 pm today to return the ferrets or a summons will be issued. Laurie will be indicted for theft, and I may be named as a conspirator. After discussions with Laurie and Lisa, I agreed to try to offer a deal to Judy: we would buy the ferrets from her at wholesale cost, about $200. Inexplicably, the pet shop's phone line is having problems: it either gives the fast busy signal or a message that this number is not in service. We tried to call from 3 different locations. It is now after 5 pm, and the ferrets are still with us and will stay with us. Lisa tells us our case is very winnable, but you can never tell what will happen. Lisa, an animal lover and ferret owner, is donating her time. If we win, we will have no costs. If we lose, we will have fines to pay and still be compelled to return the ferrets. I will keep everyone up to date. Linda Iroff North Coast Ferret Shelter http://www.oberlin.edu/~liroff/ncfs.html [Posted in FML issue 2159]