I am sitting here right now with knots in my stomach. Yesterday was a very very bad day. And it was my birthday of all things. And it wasn't bad because I am anxious about getting older or because my husband lost his job a week ago and we are broke (all of which is true.) It is because I am damn mad over ignorant people being anywhere near ferrets. Things started out okay. Were having it rough right now but we will manage. We are supposed to be getting our tax returns within the next week or two so we decided to go look at ferret cages for our babies. So they can have a bit more room to roam when they aren't on the loose. We go into this pet store in our neighborhood. It is called Indian nation pet store (in case anyone has the vile notion of ever going there while in Okc). Anyways, they usually keep MF kits there. But as were looking at their cage assortment I notice they had a ferret for sale for fifty dollars. I asked the owner what the story was. Fifty is pretty cheap for them. He said "she is a year old, her owner brought her in 2 days ago, and she has never been spayed..." I asked if she was a biter and he said no. I asked to see her and he got her out for me. She was a very sweet loving and very large girl. She cuddled in my arm. I looked towards her privates and noticed her vulva was very swollen. I said to the owner "she is in heat"....his reply "what makes you think that? " I said to him "well look!" He began to mumble....somthing about no big deal and going out in 30 days. I asked him if he knew much about ferrets, he said "oh yeah" (of course) I was irate and in shock. I dont really remember what else I said to him. I did ask him if he had a vasectomized male to bring her out, and he said no, that if he had a whole male, he would breed her himself. I said "well she has got to be fixed.." and all the time he was mumbling junk and backing away. There were parrots hollering in the background so it was hard to hear. I did notice some bright yellowish green slimy stuff on her rear. But she was all wet too, she had just sat in her water bowl, so I dont know if they had put any vitamins in there and it had gotten on her or not. They had all the lights turned off in there and only the light from the store front windows to see by. I dont know if it was ECE or not. I didn't notice any odd stools in the cage, but I didn't really look, I was to upset and only thought of it after wards. The sad thing is, the man probably didn't know what he was talking about. Or if he did, he was not going to clue me in , in case I didn't know. If I had not known I could have bought her and taken her home, only for her to die. Chances are, her owner no longer wanted her and brought her in and just gave the poor girl to the store and he was just making a quick buck off of her. When we left I begged my husband if we could go pawn my one carot engagement ring for fifty dollars, that way I could buy her and get her fixed next week when our tax money comes in. But he said no. He loves animals, but he doesn't feel obligated to save every ferret he see's, like I do. He said he wasn't going to pay fifty dollars for a ferret, and then turn around and pay another hundred for a vet. Especially when the animal might die. But I said "doesn't she deserve to die with someone who at least cares about her and who is trying to help her?!" He is also afraid of her infecting our ferrets with somthing. But I explained that we could put her in our spare cage up stairs and isolate her. He still is saying no, but might be swayed. I am at a loss on what to do. This is just making me so sick to the point that I refused to even celebrate my birthday. What do I do? I dont feel the shop owner would be very receptive to my input or ideas. He just wants his money. They have to ferrets in the store already that just stay there but are not for sale, and the female has absolutely no hair on her tail, and I have asked about it and they say "oh that is just how she is"....they claim she isn't sick.... So do I just wait until we get our money and pray she is stll there and go and buy her? I am afraid if I raise to much of a stink with the owner that he wont even talk to me or give me the chance to buy her. There are no shelters/rescues here In Oklahoma city, but there are two that I know of in other towns. I know one of the shelters owners subscribes to the fml. If she reads this, please e mail me if you have any advice or can offer any help. I would e mail her but I lost her address. And if anyone else can offer advice, shelter owners, anyone, please e mail me! This fuzzy deserves better! Michelle Phillips [Posted in FML issue 2203]