>Hmmmmmmm, well we require that the adopter feed a good quality ferret, >not cat food; we require that the ferret be caged when unsupervised; ... >we require that you sign a contract agreeing to those points. I very rarely post, but once again I am shocked by some of he "requirements" shelters have for their potential adopters. Although I am a VERY active member of our "local" ferret group/rescue (not CDFA) here in California (and own a surrender ferret myself) and have been active in legalization etc., I regularly read on this mailing list that many shelter operators would consider me an unfit ferret adopter! Perhaps statements such as the one above are meant as "guidelines" and not absolutes and that individual households are considered on an individual basis according to the "guidelines". I certainly hope so, because I would hate to think that there would be a ferret out there somewhere needing a real home who would not be able to go home with someone like me! IMO, this is why we should always examine a shelter's procedures before sending donations (obvious horror cases excepted such as a large breeder being closed down and a shelter literally being flooded w/ferrets, etc.. ). For the record, I feed my 2 weasels a 80%/20% mix of Animal Food Service "Carnivore Diet"- a "pricey" total meat & bone diet (NO grain products at all, none) in freeze-dried patties; not a "ferret-specific" food- and mixed kibble (Innova, Eukanuba & sometimes TF). Furthermore, I do sometimes leave my ferrets out while I am not there (they are both 4+ years old, slowing down, and sleep alot). pocha in CA [Posted in FML issue 2585]