Hi to all!
I've only been on the FML since 9/26.  I never thought I'd be posting
(actually I'm rather shy and have been afraid to post), but here I am.
 
This household became parents to (another) Cody in April.  She was only 9
weeks old, and cute.  My 16 year old daughter is the one who talked us into
getting Cody (of course with the many promises, naturally, that she would
take total charge of Cody's care).  Cody had complete run of Kris's room
(when she was home), but it didn't take long for Kris to ask us to partake
in some of the care.
 
At first I would (jokingly) refer to Cody as "that rat".  Cody is now 9
months old and has complete run of my living room, kitchen, hallway and
still Kris's room, but only when we're home.  By the way, we have two indoor
cats, Buffy & Peaches.  Buffy is old and not declawed, so we keep a close
eye on him around Cody, as he use to be (in his younger days) an outdoor cat
& thought of himself, sometimes, as quite a hunter.  Peaches, on the other
hand, is not a worry around Cody.  They play when Cody wants to (wrestling,
chasing each other, teasing each other with their toys.  It's really
comical.  To say the least, Cody has really become an intregate part of this
family.  I don't (jokingly) refer to her as "that rat" anymore.  She has
"earned" the name of "little one", "sweetie pie", sometimes "little sh.."
She has melted ALL of our hearts.  By the way, even though she has complete
run of most of the house, she rarely goes into my daughters room any more
(can't say I blame her, she's probably get lost in all the mess).
 
Now for the reason for this post.  I have been reading all the postings
carefully and some of you are scaring me to death.  You all seem to take
extremely good care of your "children", but they seem extremely prone to
diseases, and illnesses.  If I had known this before we got Cody, it would
have really made me think twice.  We get too attached to our pets, and can't
help becoming alarmed at the slightest thing, even a sneeze or cough.  If
anyone out there knows of a vet in Indianapolis, IN who would like to become
Cody's Personal Care Physician please let me know ASAP.  She's not ill, but
it scares me if she should get sick.  I thought my regular vet would work.
He said he can work with ferrets, but after reading some of the prior
postings in the FML, I'm not really sure.  How does one interview a vet for
their ferret qualification?  Another reason I'm really concerned about
finding the proper vet, is because I have a client who is a vet.  When we
were first talking about getting a ferret, I called him to see what we may
be getting ourselves in to.  He told me, privately, that he can't stand
ferrets.  He was telling my daughter all the cons of owning a ferret, and
they were to be cared for like a cat.  If someone I really like is a vet and
feels this way about ferrets, how do I trust any vet?  Our regular vet has
been with us for about 24 years, but how do I really know whether he had
"the qualifications"?
 
OK, I'm just about done.  I have one other, well, actually two other
problems I need solved.  I'm not very computer literate.  I, by mistake,
erased digest #1706 from my email.  I need it, actually, I really just like
to have it, as I've started a reference library of these.  I tried to
request one by using the instructions.  I addressed to
[log in to unmask] and then on one line typed GET FERRET 1706 I got a
return email that read: File "Ferrett 1706" is unknown to LISTSERV.  What
did I do wrong?  as I'm typing this I just realized I misspelled ferret, is
that my problem?
 
I hope to hear from someone, soon, about a vet.  Until then..(another) Lynda
 
[Moderator's note: Probably a typo - 1706 is indeed "known" and there!  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 1712]