Dear Dana,
 
I was so very saddened to read your post on prairie dogs, and how you
feel the ferret owners are callous to their plight.  Tis not true!  Yes,
a ferret could have been the 'one bitten and contaminated', and I'm sure
the PD owners would be as saddened as we are at how the 'problem' is
being handled.  It would be helpful if there was specific info on HOW we
can help, like e-mail addresses to write in protesting the killing of
these gentle tamed companions.  What, if any, tests can be done to check
for the disease without removing the PDs from their homes and killing
them?  Is 'someone' working on one?  What about research to find a
vaccine?
 
I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I am not species specific.
Doesn't matter if it flies,crawls, creeps,dooks, skitters,lopes, or
runs...has fur, feathers,skin or scales...love em all.  We just HAPPEN to
have 12 ferrets (Sid went 'home' to Lori's).  I think that there are more
"love em all" ferret owners out there than you know, and to enlist our
help in doing what can be done to save your babes cannot be accomplished
by branding us as non-caring.
 
Our eyes are NOT covered, please let us know HOW we can make a
difference.
 
I realize that you are in pain right now, and I do hurt for you.  Focus
that pain and anger towards goals of protecting the PDs that are still
ok, and in finding a way to test rather than killing the babe.
 
PDs have no more or no less a right to a loving,happy and healthy life
than all living beings!
 
Big hugs, and I am so sorry for your loss, Michelle, and the gang (Xena,
Maggie,Costello,Matt,Snowflake,Sunshine,Wolfgang,Ellie,Zorro,Cuddles,
Leaper,and Slick)
 
P.S.I have never held a prairie dog, but have watched them play, frolic,
groom and cuddle...watched the mothers nurture, clean and nurse their
young.  I fear were I to actually pick one up and kiss it's fuzzy lil
head, all would be lost!  I'd want terribly to bring 'em home, love and
mother them..Not a good idea with ferts running our home.  I do hope that
the mass killing because of the monkey pox ceases, and the PDs are again
not singled out for death by uncaring officials.
[Posted in FML issue 4200]