Vickie wrote
>Oh, and I also would like to post for all the newbies that seem to think
>that this list is only for sick ferrets.  All 5 of my ferrets are good
>and healthy right now, and they range in age from almost 2 yrs to 7
>yrs.  I, too, am guilty of posting when I had a sick ferret, because
>this place here is a good place for information.  Most of us are not
>vets, and will recommend that you take you ferret to a vet if ill.  But
>the support on this list can be amazing at times.  Thank you.
 
If I am the newbie referenced here, I would like to sincerely offer my
heartfelt apology.  I thought I carefully worded my request to have happy
thoughts sent to my personal email address, so as to not be construed in
any way to discourage the posting of sick ferrets or ferrets crossing the
bridge to the list.  I would not dream of depriving a single ferret access
to Dr Williams or Dr Ball or the vast knowledge of shelter moms, shelter
dads, breeders and ferret lovers who post here..  I would not presume to
deprive a grieving owner the opportunity to share that pain with the only
people who could even begin to understand.  If I miscommunicated and
conveyed otherwise to anyone on the list, please accept my apologies.  I
had neither the right nor the intent.
 
As a newbie to the list, my first impression was "ferrets sure get sick a
lot." I posted the query,
 
>Wow, EE, ECE, Insulinphoma (sp), adrenal tumors, prolapsed rectums etc etc
>etc  Why do ferrets seem to have such health problems?  Is it that people
>with healthy, happy ferrets don't email the list as much?...
 
I think it's a valid newbie question, are all ferrets this sick, or is it
that sick ferret owners are more likely to post?  And I wrote those words
from fear!  "What the hell have I set myself up for?" Since that time I
have cuddled a bald little girl in my arms, fumbled last night in my
attempt to comfort a friend who had to say goodbye at the bridge, cried as
I watched Liz retreat to heal her heart, stood by helpless as a shelter mom
brought her little insulinoma girl out of shock with glucose and protein.
I've become a professor of poopology, learning to appreciate the variety of
color a ferret can produce.  And yes, I'm still afraid.  How can I ever be
strong enough to let Angel go in 8 or 11 short years.  None of which is the
point.  The point is, please, don't anyone consider themselves "guilty" of
posting a sick ferret to this list because of something I said.  Especially
after reading what Diddy said yesterday,
 
>I called 7 vets offices, a hospital in Boston and an emergency clinic and
>do you know Dr Williams, you were the first to get back to me?  For that
>I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
 
You can bet, if Angel sneezes or poops a color I'm not sure about, my post
will be on this list!
 
Tickletacklehugglepounce
Christopher & Crew
[Posted in FML issue 3314]