Dear Mr. Owings,
 
Your post clearly stated that Big Vinnie was missing for a couple of
days.  It went something like this.  Is it normal for a ferret to be
missing for a couple of days and then just pop up?  If you did not
expect an answer why did you write?
 
Approx a week before that you posted about a baby girl ferret, that also
was missing for at least a day if not two.  You received this baby girl
to help ease your pain of your loss of Bubba (?).
 
Then you posted to this list, a public forum and asked if it was normal
for ferrets to go missing for a couple of days.
 
I did an archive search.  I noticed a pattern of missing ferrets, always
turning up again, but lost nevertheless.  There were also accidents,
most of the same kind.  I answered your post and tried to tell you that
no, this is not normal.  Something is wrong.
 
This post was and still is in no way intended to be a flame or a
critisim.  It is intended to suggest that further ferret proofing needs
to be done.  Please, please take it in that spirit.  The continual
losses and accidents is NOT NORMAL.
 
As for all the time on my hands?  I do quite a bit of rescue, I volunteer
for education days.  I helped to set up and start a shelter in my area.
I participated and helped in the Hagerstown rescue.  I recently
spearheaded the effort to save the NC3.  I have done many individual
rescues involving a great deal of money and time for nursing etc.  I help
place and rehome ferrets.  I sew for shelters every year and I taught a
shelter owner how to sew sleepy sacks.  My time spent on this was for
education and to try to help save ferrets.  My time on this is also over.
 
I can only ask one more thing.  MR. Owens, please carefuly check your
ferret proofing.  There are too many escapes and accidents and that is
not normal.  Do it because you love your ferrets and just want to make
sure no more accidents happen.  Please.
 
HappyTails,
Karen and the Scruff You Gang
[Posted in FML issue 4622]