Hi to all! Liane had written to update you all on what the WSFA has done with Petco in Bellevue, WA. After several conversations with the District Manager, there could be some hope for the ferrets. If you had all seen how young these ferrets from Triple F Farms were, I am sure you would have been very upset. Instead of jumping up and down, I simply spoke with the person in charge and then followed up with the Manager of that store. He listened to my advice on what to feed, proliferated bowel (they all had it) etc... As a result, Liane went into the store the next day and obtained the ferrets for temporary fostering until they can go back in the store for sale. Liane and I will also be attending the employee meeting to educate those new employees who do not have ferret techniques/knowledge. I really want all of you to know that YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! If you see something wrong with how a store cares for animals, don't be rude, simply contact someone who has authority to make decisions, such as the Manager or the District Manager. I would love to see more local breeders and shelters providing ferrets to people, referred by stores, than to see the stores continue to get shipments of babies that are way too young. How would the stores still profit from this? Several ways. We would drive traffic into the store for supplies (coupons could even be distributed to our members, etc...), and we could work out a "referral fee" that they would get upon the sale of the ferrets. This would be good for the store because they would have no overhead invested (labor, food, etc...) we would do all the work. Please do not ask me how we knew these kits were too young, we know and also saw the birth certificates. This was not Petco's fault and they are really caring and trying to make it better for these animals. I am really trying to use my marketing and advertising background to aid these wonderful animals any way I can. I have seen many posts on this list bashing pet stores. Instead of bashing the pet stores, get off you arse and contact someone who can make some changes. This could even be at the corporate level. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, ONE PERSON AT A TIME. My .02 cents. Danielle Frye, Rastaferretin, Dopey, Cleo and Marley plus my darling foster child, Fancy Acting PR Director/Education Coordinator Washington State Ferret Association [Posted in FML issue 2837]