In a previous post I had written: >>In my area it has been confirmed by many pet stores that MF sells to them >>at $44 per ferret - plus shipping - & the stores retrieve them at the >>airport. I know a few local breeders that also sell to pet stores & get >>$65 - $85 per kit (and they hand deliver). MC posted: >Yes, $44.00 per ferret, but don't forget the Delta Dash charge to get those >ferrets into your area. At last check, D.D. was $162 something for 1 to >50 pounds, and 2 hundred something for 51 to 70 pounds. So, the cost per >ferret is going to be substantially higher, depending on how many ferrets >were shipped. I understand there are shipping costs. I guess my point is why would pet stores support MF by obtaining their kits when they can get them for the same price, if not cheaper, from a local breeder? I realize that local breeders cannot often supply at the rate MF can. Maybe a way to stop MF is to stop their clients - inform pet stores that purchase from them what exactly MF is doing. I wonder if this would work? In reguards to tattoos: The vet I use insists on tatooing all ferrets he alters. He tells me it is so he can tell he did it. Well, he just puts a dot for spay/neuter and a dot for descent. Well that is two dots! I have him out them in the left ear so my ferrets are not confused as MFs later down the line (not that they look anything like MFs, but . . . ). I have asked him if he could put only one in, but he deals with another breeder that distributes to pet stores that uses that. Any suggestions? I need a way to tell them apart! But I don't want mine confused with any big "mills". BTW - I do NOT sell to pet stores. I have thought of three dots, but I think that is going too far. Thanks [Posted in FML issue 2236]