My most recent ferret did not come from a large breeder or a pet shop, but from a private breeder or accidental breeding that ended up at an auction where the auctioneer claimed, based on what the consignor said, that the ferret was tame and gentle. In fact, the albino ferret was deaf as a post and a bad fear-biter. Over the years, the best ferret I had was a Marshall Farms ferret, who had a truly excellent temperament and was gentle with everyone. Frankly, I feel the breeders, despite their size, who breed good quality animals with good temperaments are superior to the breeders who breed anything to anything, just to get babies to sell. A good breeder is more concerned about the reputation of their animals as good pets. Bad pets can cost the breeder in future sales. Sure they are in it for the money, but only extremist animal rights groups think that making money working with animals is evil. They don't even want vets, shelters, pet food companies, vaccine companies, etc to make a dime, much less breeders or brokers. In every area of the animal industry, there are the good and the bad..and everyone in-between. People just need to learn to deal with it, rather then seek out and attack the very industry that supports your right to keep ferrets or other pets. If we, in this industry, fight among ourselves, we will lose our rights to keep any animals due to being so busy infighting, that we fail to notice legislation that plays on individual fears, pushed by extremists. I feel that too many people spend time passing judgment over others, then seeking ways to improve things for our pets in a positive way. Rather then make attacks, make reasonable suggestions. [Posted in FML issue 2695]