I just read the post about appreciating spiders.  No flame here, I used
to do the very same thing.  I thought they weren't hurting anyone and were
eating any other insects that might invade my house.  A year ago my mom
lost one of her ferrets to a spider bite.  It bit her on the foot
overnight.  I took her to work with me first thing in the morning (vet's
office) and we treated her for the reaction she was having.  Her foot was
swollen at least half its original size.  The swelling went down, but so
did she.  Her blood volume was so low we even gave her a blood
transfusion.  She did not make it.  I never thought a ferret could die
from a spider bite.  Unfortunately I was wrong.  I just wanted to warn
anyone who feels the way I used to about spiders, they definately are not
all harmless.
[Posted in FML issue 3556]