We are starting with Petco for a few different reasons. The House Rabbit Society was able to successfuly able to appeal to Petco to stop the sales of rabbits. Petco, on its own, has also stopped selling iguanas (not an easy animal to keep healthy for the unprepared!). Petco is also a public company. They may be more responsive to issues regarding animal welfare because of the direct reflection onto stock prices. Petco also seems fairly coopertive with local shelter organizations regarding education and adoption days for dogs and cats. This could present a really good opportunity to educate the public and possibly place some of these ferrets that are in the shelters. The only way this will occur is if we all write into Petco and ask them to stop. I'm appealing to you because I know we can work together, we did in the past for Kodo. Even though Kodo was lost, there were great strides made to protect our personal pets from unfair treatment by archaic policies regarding rabies. The ferrets you may be keeping out of the shelters may not be your own - but those ferrets deserve good homes too. Originally I was asking people to e-mail me for the template and addresses. I've posted the information here, but would really like to hear from people who have followed through with an letter. Thanks! Ann Here is the template and officer names and corporate addresses. I'm writing to each individual on the list. I am a ferret lover writing to you regarding my concerns about the sale of ferrets as small pets by the Petco Corporation. Ferrets are wonderful companions and terrific pets, but often purchasers are not aware of the challenges and complexity of this animal before they bring it home. After the ferret owner finds they are unable to cope with this curious and active pet, the ferret becomes simply, unwanted.. The options are fairly limited for most unwanted ferrets. Many are sentenced to death by release into the outdoors. Survival for a ferret exposed to the elements, a domesticated animal entirely imprinted on prepared foods, is about 2 to 3 days. Often the ferret becomes a permanent inhabitant of it s cage to die a slow death of neglect from lack of proper health care or correct diet. A lucky number end up in over burdened private shelters across the US, hoping for new homes. Currently these shelters are overwhelmed with ferrets that need homes with new ones arriving almost daily. Would you please consider discontinuing the sales of ferrets at Petco stores? Many ferret clubs are more then eager to become involved with Petco to hold adoption and education days - a win/win situation for both Petco and homeless ferrets everywhere. Here are the names and titles for the executives, as well as the address for Petco's main office. Brian K Devine Chairman, President and CEO Larry D. Asselin Senior Vice President Richard C. St. Peter Executive Vice President, CFO and Secretary William M. Woodard Senior Vice President James M. Myers Senior Vice President, Finance and CAO Petco 9125 Rehco Road San Diego, CA 92121 Please help!!! [Posted in FML issue 2408]