Betta Bomb
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SJ Newfoundland, Canada
Age: 33
Posts: 5,202
I would NOT get one from a pet store!!!! NEVER buy pets from pet stores because most chain pet stores such as Petco and Petdepot and most other franchised stores such as Pets Unlimited and PetSmart get their live animals from warehouses who mass produce animals in S**tty conditions with little or no vet care and without care to notice genetic diseases or mishaps. They treat the animals as objects and turn them out to pet stores to receive profit. The animals usually are so stressed out by the journey and by the lack of attention they receive by idiot employees who have little knowledge of their needs that many just die. Also, many employees cannot properly sex the animals and therefore house males and females together which turns into accidental litters. Sick animals are out up for sale because the animals were not individually looked over by an accredited veterinarian and a lot of prey animals (rabbits, rodents) hide their illnesses until it's too late and some larger animals (reptiles) are just harder at finding internal illnesses by a regular pet store employee, so the animal you buy could be sick and die. The animals, since mass produced in a warehouse receive little human companionship or affection so when they are bought they have socialization or behavior issues which makes the new expectant owner give it up or totally neglect it.
If not a reputable breeder then a rescue would be a better option because you have some background of the animals parents or health. It feels better to rescue a pet rather than buy it in some genetic store like a pair of jeans. Ferrets are very social and you shouldn't get one if you cannot provide it's needs right away. They are predators and like to chase and hunt their prey (even if it's pinkie mice) and they require a lot of play which another ferret would be best for.
As Kendalle mentioned, until you get your dog situation figured out I do not think you should get a ferret! If the dog has to live outside because your grandmother does not want it indoors then she will surely despise a ferret!! They love to run and play in furniture and around tables and under rugs and they love to chase things, be it feet or cats etc...