Hi, all, it's me again. ... I know there are (or were?) two shelters here, one in Sapulpa, and one in Broken Arrow, but I cannot reach them by e'mail, and haven't had the time to drive to either place to "ferret" them out. ;) sorry. Anyway, being here in Stillwater, and occasionally encountering ferret owners by accident, I decided I would try and remedy the situation by starting my own ferret club. Unfortunately, it is turning out to be a little tougher than I thought. First, I have to have the time to dedicate to this. I am a college student, read: study, eat, study, classtime, study...sleep? I am trying. Second, there is a very very helpful pet store called Aqua Mart, that yes, sells ferrets, but also educates each and every prospective owner about the trials and tribulations of ferret ownership. I actually saw the owner refuse to sell his kit to a family because they were going to give it to their child, who was 2, and make it "his" pet. The owner objected to this. I was impressed. Anyway, he has agreed to give me the names and addresses of all the people he knows of that has purchased a ferret or ferret products, but more importantly he likes the idea of a club in town that can educate more people and has said he would not only let me hang fliers in his store, but he would inform others of my attempts. Yay! To anyone considering a flame since I am condoning a pet store, let it be known that I don't think there are any breeders in OK, at least none close...contact me if I'm wrong. Third, the meeting place. Well, I've set the first meeting for January (this semester is not conducive to any sort of extra-curricular activity...:( ...) but my apartment sure isn't big enough for this, and the only other place is the Stillwater community center. Perfect, yes?? No. It costs $30 to rent the room. Now, I have absolutely no problem with shelling out $30 for the first couple of meetings, but I, as a college student, can't afford to meet there forever!! That's really expensive for me!!! Right now... Any suggestions?? I haven't tried petitioning the college for a meeting place (Oklahoma State University is local), but considering no animals are allowed in the dorms, I can't see them being ultra-willing to allow several ferrets in their meeting rooms... Should the first meeting be ferret-less?? Or should I only bring my two?? I will definitely require proof of distemper/rabies vacc. and harnesses or carriers, but beyond that, what?? Any help at all would be appreciated. I am planning (loosely) on starting a small ferret shelter a few years down the road, but this needs to come first and get established... Please reply!! Either directly to me, or to the fml, since Michael McKinley is encountering the same things up in Seattle!! Carrie Moore, Loki, and Balder ---- Their continuing mission: to leave no drawer (/. .\) uninvestigated, to seek out new linatone, new __ "_ ___ treats, to boldly poop where no ferret has -///-\\\-- pooped before! [Posted in FML issue 2452]