Well said Lorraine of Mustela Canada, and to the many others who have stated the same thing on this FML. Our association chooses to work with pet stores; not against them. We set up our Information Booth anywhere we can - malls, vet clinics, pet supply stores, parks, and pet stores. For us, each person we reach and EDUCATE, brings us one step closer to ensuring that people who have ferrets are providing proper care, people who were thinking of getting a ferret will go ahead knowing what they are in for and people who thought they were so cute, but hadn't a clue will decide not to after finding out more about them and realizing that they do not fit their lifestyle. After all, as wonderful as ferts are, they are not the pet for everyone. Those un-informed, impulse buys end up in our shelter several months down the road! We can't prevent, job transfers, relationship breakdowns, or even the "moving to a better apartment", but we can make a difference on impulse buys. The pet store employee(s) can become your best ally in the education of ferrets. The more people that you have that can speak on behalf of ferrets the better. No club or association or shelter can be in all places, every day of the year. I think of all the pet store employees that I have met and spoken to as our secret weapon against misinformation. Some of them don't even realize that they have been recruited!!! And yes sometimes, it feels like the mountain top keeps getting further away - no sooner do you have a well informed staff at your local pet store, then they move on and you have to start all over again. But, the person who moved on; whether they went on to work at another pet store or anywhere else, will not forget what they learnt and will be able to speak up should the need arise. Not all pet store provide the proper care, not all pet stores have good staff. You may not be able to change everything, but even if it is only one thing, you have still accomplished positive change. You don't give up, you bite your tongue and try and find another way to reach out and initiate positive changes. You do not throw out the whole barrel of apples because you came across one or two rotten ones.(Lord, some one take my soap box away, I'm in full throttle). Before someone else says it - YES, by being in a pet store handing out information, ferrets are being bought, so we are technically supporting the sale of ferrets in the pet store. Here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, there are no small breeders. You want a ferret, you have to go to a store. What about our no-kill shelter? Well, if we aren't in the stores to tell them all about ferrets AND our shelter, then they won't find out and decide to drop by later! Some folks want to start off with a baby and don't see the gifts an older fert brings with him/her. But at least they know about us, and hopefully the next fert they get will come from our shelter. Sometimes, we have to put folks on a waiting list as our shelter is empty. Each club, association, geographic location has their own unique circumstances that they must work with. Deb Kelley President, Manitoba Ferret Association No-Kill Shelter Operator Owned by:Squeaks & Niles - first ferrets and bought from a pet store Ivan, Farrah, Rufus, Smudges, Lovey, Zoey & Zack all rescues adopted by my hubby and I. Waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge: Willy, Peanut, Max and as of yesterday, our shelter mascot Mr. one-eyed Jack who was really our Jack of Hearts and now holds a piece of my heart with him at the Rainbow Bridge [Posted in FML issue 2797]