There has been good response from FMLers regarding the letter writing campaign to Petco to ask them to stop selling ferrets. However, to make a difference here, we need more participation. Again, I'd like to ask that if you are interested in sending an letter to the executive officers of Petco - Please do so. A basic letter template and names of the officers with addresses follows. You may choose to modify the letter template as needed - but it is important to make it clear just how overwhelmed our shelters are and to be polite and as agreeable as possible. Remember, we need Petco's cooperation! For those who are unfamiliar with the situation - here is the reasoning behind this campaign. Ferrets are great pets, and wonderful companions, but due to the complexity of keeping this animal they are not good impulse purchase pets. Even people with the best of intentions often find that ferrets are more then they expected. The result of this is that many ferrets are turned into shelters and the shelter system is overwhelmed. Most of the ferrets surrendered came from retail channels. There are more then 40 shelters on the FML shelter list and countless individuals doing foster care. The majority of these shelters are privately funded. As more ferrets enter retail channels, more ferrets are surrendered. The number of ferrets needing homes climbs every month. The goal is to see the large chains stopping the sales of ferrets. This may provide enough leverage to pressure the smaller stores on a one by one basis. Even if the smaller stores stopped *stocking* ferrets, but just fufilled special customer orders, that would help reduce the impulse purchases that so often lead to abandonment. [Posted in FML issue 2408]