| There are several places where you can buy a | | | | there existing solely to make money for the |
| ferret. This article highlights some of the pro's and | | | | owner. They don't particularly care about the |
| con's of these | | | | animals they are breeding and many may have |
| You may consider going to a pet shop to buy | | | | been taken from their mother far too early and |
| your new ferret. This is ideal if you are looking for | | | | not even had their initial vaccinations. |
| a baby, but if you want an older one it's not so | | | | That being said there are responsible breeders out |
| good. Ferrets from pet stores should also have | | | | there who do care about their animals. You may |
| had their initial shots and you should be able to | | | | find these more expensive to buy from but the |
| get a health certificate showing you what fuzzy | | | | breeders will have a wealth of experience and |
| has already had. | | | | knowledge and will be able to give you a complete |
| Before buying from a pet store it would be | | | | history of the ferret's life to date. |
| advisable to check with your local and state | | | | Perhaps one of the best ways of getting a new |
| authorities that you can legally own a ferret. Just | | | | ferret is to look at animal rescue shelters or |
| because a pet store has them for sale doesn't | | | | specialist ferret rescue associations. Many ferrets |
| mean that you are home and dry. In some | | | | find their way to these every year through no |
| states, Hawaii and California for example, it is illegal | | | | fault of their own and they will require re-homing. |
| to keep ferrets at all. Others like Illinois and Rhode | | | | Getting a ferret this way is not quite the same as |
| Island may require you to purchase a license to | | | | buying one as you are effectively adopting and |
| own them. | | | | re-homing him, so you may be asked to pay an |
| Buying from a breeder will pretty much ensure | | | | adoption fee but you may also be given additional |
| that you are able to get exactly what you are | | | | food and toys so that he has something familiar in |
| looking for in your baby... but be careful. As with | | | | his new surroundings. This is an ideal way to find |
| all animal breeders some are in it purely to make | | | | an older ferret and the shelter staff will be able to |
| money and are not particularly interested in the | | | | match you to your ideal fuzzy. Some of the pets |
| welfare of the animal. I'm sure you have seen | | | | that find their way into the shelters may have |
| animal welfare programs on TV where hundreds | | | | been mistreated by a previous owner and may |
| of dogs are rescued from puppy farms and the | | | | have behavioral issues which you will be made |
| majority, if not all, have to be humanely | | | | aware of together with any specialist advice you |
| euthanized because of their condition. Well it's not | | | | may need to keep fuzzy happy. |
| only puppies. There are also ferret farms out | | | | |