Hi, all.  Aunt Edith and Uncle Frank showed up so now we no longer have
someone missing in the blizzard.  They are fine, just shaken up a lot.
 
Re: inbreeding.  Yes, it is a serious problem and probably accounts for a
good number of cancers and other problems, but it also must be remembered
that it is probably only part of the problem with lympho at least since it
appears that this cancer may also have viral triggers, which may take years
to create a cancer problem or be rapid depending on virus and individual's
own ability to fight the random cancer cells we all regularly develop, and
recall that Black Footed Ferrets are prone to lympho in older ages than
they usually reach in the wild.  (What do you think, shall I try to survey
zoo small mammal curators to try to see what they have experienced in
relation to cancer types and instances in Mustelidae's various members?
The Family is so unstudied compared to many others.) Inbreeding can
contribute an increasing part here if susceptibility to cancers is passed
along bred and rebred blood lines, or if a tendency toward not being able
to fight some viruses is passed, or non-genetically if the breeder has an
undetected non-symptomatic virus in a colony which predisposes the kits
toward eventual cancer(s).  ( Aside: Re: Waadenburg's Syndrome, the
deafness gene which may express itself in a wide range of severity from
profound to mild: it's a dominant gene, not a recessive, and is quite
common throughout much of mammalia.  'Chopper likes to feel the words when
we talk to her by placing her "hands" next to our mouths.  She also enjoys
feeling the vibrations when the others run through tubes to the point where
she will wildly wag her tail.) Does anyone have figures on how common the
use of ferrets is in cancer research or is this assumed?  Most ferret
cancers develop at older ages and I can't see a researcher keeping too many
around for natural onset.  If and when used, what are done as triggers?  We
could learn something here about what NOT to expose the guys to.
 
Had a rescue last week.  Usually we'll get a call and just refer the folks to
appropriate potential owners or if can't find any to ferret friendly shelters,
but this time was different.  It was an emergency.  A 4 or 5 month old male
(Marshall Farms) was found hidden in the closet of a child attending a school
for emotionally disturbed and violent boys.  We are talking kids who last Summer
ganged up on a baby groundhog and ran it to collapse then beat it to death, and
have often done similar things with other critters.  A teacher had confiscated
him and was in real trouble with her director for doing so (He dislikes animals
and with some others wanted to turn the little guy loose on a highway -- somehow
I DON'T think he's a good role model.) but her real problem was that she rescues
cats and between 10 of them and a rescued dog had no place to keep the little
guy.  Out came a spare cage which we set up with litter pot, bedding, food,
water, toys, hammock, etc.  in the front room (Our own live in the back of the
house.).  He was a darling:  NO biting at all despite what he had been through,
just COMPLETE gratitude.  He was eternally grateful even to have water and food
handy.  He had to be taught what toys and a water bottle were, but turned out to
become so interested in hide and seek/daleks that he quickly got over his fear
of small places.  Shyness of hands, out and out fear of leather and of shoes,
and terror of cars are other problems he came with.  The first word he
understood was "kissy-kissy-kissy".  Because we have 5 already  and doubted he
could cope now with dominance battles we decided it would be better for all if
we found him a good home, and were able to place him with a family which has
handled abused animals before, knows ferrets well, and lost their geriatric
whole male ( who was probably within 6 month of age of Hjalmar when we lost
Hjalmar and was almost his twin except for being a bit bigger)  to congestive
heart failure within days of our losing Hjalmar.  Harley took to them
immediately and is happy as can be, but still insists on hugging and kissing us
when we have visited.  (Steve named him from the folk song in which a loving
biker couple loses their baby when he and the side car he is in roll away, and
he is adopted by a Ma and Pa Kent type couple and named for his tatoo.)
 
Katie and Nancy, Please, let us know what has happened with shy Molly, sly
Bandit, and sweet Breezy.   If you need us to ask questions you know we will.
I'm I bit worried that Ruffie has had her nodes up and down recently.  They
responded well to antibiotics (she had gotten a bacterial respitory infection
from me), and went down, but today they are a bit up again.  We promise to watch
her closely.  (She probably just recaught this foul thing from me  even though I
am very careful, since I've had a rough time with it.  Ouch.  I didn't intend
that pun.)
 
    Love to all,  Sukie (inabsentia: Steve) (in one of
    the ferret-proof playrooms:  Meltdown, 'Chopper
    the living helicopter, Spot  who has none, and
    Meeteetse) (incage:  the 3rd birthday girl, Ruffle)
 
[Posted in FML issue 0446]