Hi to the Australians on the list. Georgina - Australian ferrets don't seem to have the adrenal problems that ferrets from the USA have. I was shocked too when I first started reading the FML and discovered all the adrenal posts. That doesn't mean that there won't be expensive trips to the vet. We spent a lot of money on our two that had pneumonia. Sadly, they died. On the bright side the rest were a pretty healthy bunch, apart from a case of mange. Regarding the high cost of ferrets in the USA: in Australia they sell for around A$40. I have't really been involved in the rescue side of things, and I was wondering if there were Australians that had been who would be able to tell me if the relatively low cost of ferrets here means they are regarded as a throwaway pet? From what I have seen it is not like the scenario that a poster a few days ago described where there would be multitudes of abandoned ferrets if the were cheap. Then again, we have proportionally less ferrets bred over here, and perhaps we have a high rate of abandonment, but not the sheer numbers like in the USA. All the best to the Melbourne shelter operators who are closing down. I know the position of Ferret Rescue Officer in the WA club was a difficult one, and people would tend to only do it for a year at a time. We were lucky having some very dedicated people who would take on this job, but they needed to be able to pass it on to other club members and have a break. Is there a similar club in Victoria that would support your efforts or organise a rotating ferret rescue? Sheila - is the Ferrets Choice food available at the UK ferret fair made in Australia? If so Companions Choice has cerainly expanded their ferret food operaions. I remember when the food was only available from just a few pet shops in Perth. Kylie Ferretless in Queensland [Posted in FML issue 2690]