Hi All, A couple of months ago I posted on the FML asking for advice on wether or not to purchase a grown, somewhat aggressive ferret I found here in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I live. I received SO MANY responses (THANKS!!! ALL OF YOU) that I've opted to post again with "an update" (rather than respond to every mail I got) -- I'm also adding a very frustrating experience I had with American Airlines. By the way, there was an even split between those of you urging me to buy & re-educate the snippy ferret vs. those of you that said it was too much to handle for a first-time owner. When I went back to the "exotic" pet store here in Buenos Aires to spend some more time with the ferret it had already been purchased by a young boy....I asked the pet store owner for this person's phone number, so I could at least call and ask him if he had experience with ferrets & to let him know about the FML, but the shop owner wouldn't give me the info, saying it was "confidential". I wonder what really happened to that ferret... I still was interested in buying a young ferret, so when a business trip took me to Miami, Florida in December, I made plans to bring one back with me. I had already secured the necessary permits from the local Fauna and Agriculture Departments here in Argentina (which was a bit of a struggle) and had a green light to bring one back from the U.S. Imagine my disappointment when, after having selected a beautiful, young, docile and playful ferret in a pet shop in Miami, American Airlines would not let me bring one on the plane. Not even in the luggage compartment, in a proper cage, with the veterinarian's health certification. Their response was (I quote): "Their heads are so little that they can just squeeze through the bars of the cage and get out". I am sure their little heads pack substantially more IQ than the American Airlines person I was up against. Even after talking to "The Supervisor" I had no luck; she said it was just airline policy....cats and dogs are allowed, ferrets are not. Unfortunately I couldn't change my airline ticket because it was restricted, and I was REALLY upset I couldn't bring a ferret with me to Buenos Aires. Do any of you know what international airlines DO ALLOW ferrets???? I am NEVER flying American Airlines again, and I will tell everyone I know to avoid them. If they apply the same criteria to maintenance as they do in developing their pet handling policy.... it's a scary thought. Thanks to all & a late Happy New Year. Alex Vitale Bs. As., Argentina [Posted in FML issue 2186]