So, I am a ferret mommy soon to be. I have done years worth of research on these wonderful creatures, so no worries there! But I am facing a problem... I don't know of any pet stores in NC (this is where I'll move to) 

Could anyone inform me of pet stores that sell PVF? I know they tend to more aggressive than Marshall (but healthier). But I DID meet this one sweet little Kit (at Jack's in Ohio) who didn't bite and gave kisses! Unfortunately, I couldn't  buy her at this time...

I know it's more humane to adopt from shelters, so please don't lecture me...I just wish to buy two, sweet little healthy babies from a pet store. I hope that doesn't sound selfish...I just find it within my dreams to raise little babies. 

Why I don't want to buy from a breeder is because they are WAAAAY TOO expensive. I know a PVF kit sells for $170 but I have found Breeder kits that sell for $250 or more!

Please give me a BUNCH of locations...The pet store locations can be any where east of Ashville. Thank you VERY much for the time and answers! Blessings to all of you and your ferrets!

Have you tried emailing PVF to ask for stores in the area?  I've only seen Marshall's and Triple F ferrets in Florida.

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Thanks for the reply! :) sadly, I have emailed them multiple times about this...But I have never gotten a reply back. Yesterday, I called them before 6:00 P.M. (it is Eastern time here) No one replied...I was left with the option to leave a message, so I didn't want to due to the frustration of trying to leave a good message. 

So I may be left with the only option of adopting Marshalls later in my life...But I have heard so many sad stories of Marshalls growing sick easier and dying. Have you had Marshalls before? If so, what has been your experience? 

Whenever I look at a Marhsall at my pet store, they just look sad and unhealthy. But when I look at Path Valley Farm ferrets at my other store; they look much healthier and happier. What should I do?

I also read about this private ferret farm named Carolina Ferrets. I have emailed her multiple times, never have I gotten a reply. I have heard of a few people having the same experience. She also states on her site that she breeds her ferrets "stout". Is this healthy? What does it mean? Would this be a farm to buy ferrets from?

All my Marshalls have been healthy ferrets when I purchased them. My last ferret Bandit who died was 10 years old. The only path valley ferret I bought was my Patty who had cardiomiapothy which is an enlarged heart and had to take medicine for years she only lived to be 5 1/2 yrs old. She bit when I first got her but I quickly broke her of the habit and she became a lovely ferret I loved a lot.I don't know where you got that path valley are healthier than marshalls Most of my Marshalls have lived to be between 8 to 10 yrs. Yes ferrets get cancers and die early from them but that would be any ferret I have seen where even breeders ferret that people online have died of cancer of some sort. Many ferrets get adrenal as they get older but that is from being fixed so young and all of the big farms do that. I have owned 58 ferrets in the last 17yrs and right now have 15 so I do have some experience.

I haven't head much about Carolina Farms lately.  I have not heard anything bad about them in the past, though.  I'm waiting for raml to share her secrets regarding longevity.   My wife and I have had 25(?) ferrets, all but 2 Marshall's.  My first 3 were allowed to escape by careless youths leaving doors open and 1 died in an accident and 2 were killed by dogs.  6 of mine were rescues, so ages unknown when they passed, but most were at least 5-6.  We've only had 1 who was known to be over 8 when she passed.  That said, Eddie (rescue) died during surgery to remove bad teeth, and Poppy (got her at 2 months old) died at 5 of a tooth abcess that we caught too late.    Prissy is our current oldest, at 7 1/2, but she is a Real Canadian.  Jaffa is our only private bred ferret, from a small ferretry in central Ontario, and he has both insulinoma and adrenal.  He's 5 1/2.  Alice passed last month, 2 months shy of her 6th birthday, of kidney failure.  Polecats live 2-3 years in the wild, so even if ours make it to only 6, we're doubling their life expectancy.
I should add that I also adopted 2 from an older couple who fed them purina cat chow their first 2 years.  One had insulinoma just as he turned 2 (he was being treated when I killed him in an accident), and neither lived past 3 years old.  Lots of losses from lots of causes, and it seems like even when we take extraordinary measures they pass anyway.  I can't even believe that I lost 2 of my favorites from dental issues.  We brush a lot of teeth now, let me tell you. 
After the third escaped, my son told me I was like the Underground Railroad for ferrets.  Looking back, it was his fault to a great degree.  I should go belt him, lol.
My wife and I love our ferrets, but I've learned a lot of lessons the hard way and we're not ones to spend thousands of dollars for surgeries.  Right now we have Rosa, the only Marshall we've ever had that is still biting at 2 years.  We got her from a shelter, where she lived for a year, and her prior history is unkown.  Every other Marshall was at least not a biter, some have been loving, some have been sort of in their own worlds, but almost all were playful and willing to be held for at least a few minutes. I'm not pushing Marshall's.  I might prefer Path Valley as well, based only on breeding practices, but don't know where to get them.
Sorry, I rambled a bit there, but that's my story.

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Privately bred ferrets here in US are no healthier than the pet store ferrets.  They are dealing with smaller gene pool and they are breeding for the show ring.  

 There are breeders out there that try to better the gene pool and ferret's health.  Do your research and ask questions.

I have owned number pet store ferrets....some of them have out lived the privately bred ferrets.

You really don't know what the future holds for ferret. But are their things that you can do to help your ferret, yes.

I  have had privately bred ferret that gone thru one season before they were neutered/spayed.  They did come down with adrenal....but at later age.

Changing my ferret's diet to raw/ no grain kibbles.  I am seeing less insulinoma in my kids.

Ask around....everyone has different experience.  

I think the secret to the length of time my ferrets live is of course good food no junk food and a big one is I am home with them since I retired and have lots of time with them and I think they stay around longer somehow being with me as much as they have been. I have had ferrets die younger which is heart breaking but for the most part mine have died past 8 yrs and many have been closer to 9 yrs I have had 3 that were almost 10yrs and 2 that made it to 10yrs. My rescues for the most part have been older and my vet makes a good guess and since he owns ferrets I think he gets pretty close. My four younger ferret rescues actually died fairly young maybe 2 to 4 yrs after I got them. I only have one left Cocoa and I have had her almost 6 years she came to me just as I was retiring. I could be wrong about the amount of time being helpful but it sure seems like that it is the only difference why mine live longer. The majority of ferrets I have had I have had from kits rescues were a small part of my business.

Wenmister, can you please tell me where you got Parker from? Is he Path Valley? I had a ferret with his same markings many years ago, and since he passed I have been unable to find another. Could you help me?

Parker was found running loose in my neighborhood. He is a rescue that I took in.

Oh how horrible that someone let him go. I got known in my area as the animal rescuer, so people would leave them in boxes on my doorsteps thank God, and not in the street. Well you are very lucky to have found him. I miss my angel, Raja. If you come across this color can you please let me know?