The point I was trying to make was a general one--that ferret owners ought to
take responsibility for proper care of their pets, including veterinary care
where necessary.  It was not intended as a personal attack on any individual.  I
was truly saddened by the story of Antigone's tragic and perhaps preventable
death.
 
Obviously, unexpected medical expenses can in rare instances overwhelm the
finances of most any of us.  I am quite nonplussed however at the figure of
$1000 cited for surgery to remove a foreign body from the stomach.  I would be
very interested to know what the veterinarians that frequent FML think is a
"normal" or "typical" charge for such surgery.  I paid about $100 the last time
one of ours required it. In any event, most veterinarians I have dealt with have
been willing, in cases of truly large bills, to stretch payment in full out over
several months.
 
With regard to "accusations," though, let's keep the record straight.  There is
an important difference between stating an ethical principle (which I did) and
pointing a finger directly at one individual and saying "YOU are the person who
is violating that principle" (which I did not).  If I am in a roomful of people
and assert as a general proposition that "Murder is wrong," and John Doe stands
up and says "I did it in  self-defense!" it is John Doe who accuses himself.
 
[Posted in FML issue 0753]