>descenting is mutilation and unnecessary. [?] Does the descent surgery >actually make a ferret smell less? If once a ferret is neutered/spayed, >doesn't most of the scent go away, or is it still heavy? I don't believe >I've ever actually been around a ferret that "poofed", so I just don't >know. I want to know, as I may be considering getting an unaltered ferret, >having it neutered/spayed later, but not descented. Wondered if someone >prefers descented over un-descented? Thanks in advance for a reply. The musky ferret smell is produced by a number small scent glands which are all over their bodies. The anal glands are for marking and defence. Getting a ferret neutered will reduce the musky smell considerably so there is absolutely no need to get any ferret de-scented. Why run the risk of having your ferret suffer from faecal incontinence? At present I have 48 ferrets and all of them are intact in the anal scent gland area. BTW if a ferret 'skunk' is doesn't linger- maybe 10 minutes - if it really bothers you a quick spray with something like "Ferret Off" will solve the problem. I've been hearing some very disturbing reports of a white van - from N. Wales according to some folk - that is touring parts of the Wirral and Merseyside. Apparently the driver? is handing out ferrets to kids on the street. My friends who run a rescue on the Wirral have already rescued some ferrets that have come from this white van. Two hobs (brothers?) about 9 months old have been taken in by a new member of the welfare - he just couldn't see the two ferrets dumped. Until someone comes up with the registration number of the van and a positive identity of this man the RSPCA can't do anything. It looks like 'our friend' is clearing surplus stock ready for the coming breeding season. Sheila Bolton Ferret Welfare & Editor of The National Ferret Welfare Society. Web Site: www.btinternet.com/~sheila/ferrets.htm last update 10 Jan 1999 Waiting at Rainbow Bridge: Jill, Deanna Troy, Cameron, Carnath, Button, Bill & Bobby. [Posted in FML issue 2601]