To Pat Nothnagle and Dr Williams:
 
Like I said, my views aren't shared by many, but I can't help how I
feel.  And yes, I meant when switching buildings you leave the exposed
ferrets in the previous shelter and go on with the new one.  An ideal
situation that I realize is not always possible since this isn't the
perfect world.  But it doesn't change my feelings.
 
I'm sure the severity of ECE in my house has alot to do with how I
feel.  And *no one* except Dr Williams and Dr Balonek know what I went
thru.
 
And Pat, sometimes around-the-clock care just isn't enough.  To be forcing
feeding and finding out Duck Soup doesn't work....to see ferrets dwindle
down to nothing but skin and bones so you could feel EVERY single bone in
their body - bones you didn't even know existed.  To feel big, heafty,
chunky 5.5 lb males drop down to 1.8 lb.  To see every version of Duck
Soup still continue to produce diarrhea - Suscatal, Ensure, Discover 2.0.
And having your first rescue ferret die in your arms.  And then if that's
not enough, your have your very first litter in the middle of all of this.
Sub-q fluids and medications weren't helping either.
 
I guess my case was extreme because I keep hearing about "a little diarrhea
for a couple of days and then they were fine,"  and that's just not how
it was for me.
 
And 4 ferrets still aren't right - and I don't think they ever will be.
Every time I think I've found something that will work for them, it only
ends up being a short term solution.
 
I MISS socializing with my ferrets.  My ferrets are gorgeous ;-) and I
love to show them off, but it will continue to be our clubs policy -
*until a vaccine is produced* to not have previously infected ferrets
at social functions.  There a FEW clubs out there who feel as I do -
 
But very few - and that's okay....we'll just have to disagree on this.
 
Debbie Riccio
WNYFLFA
Rochester, NY
[Posted in FML issue 1243]