Hee hee - I love how you call them "ferts" - we have silly names for the rats, too; we call them "pooties"! (It started out as ratty-poos, and then pooty-poos, and now pooties - yeah, I'm your typical screw loose pet lover ) I love how they get to play at the "beach" all year round, too! They look happy, loved, and maybe a little spoiled (nah, that can't be).

Jen, why on earth are they illegal in your town? Have there been cases of ferrets running at large biting children, or people arranging ferret-fights for money? Do they cause hallucinations and impaired driving ability? (JUST KIDDING - but I really can't see why anyone would object to pets that are kept completely inside someone's home!)