Sometimes saying goodbye is a great occassion... well, I mean, when we see ferrets go off to a happy home -- such as in the case this past week with sisters Holly & Ivy and Ruby Christmas who left to keep another tiny pet store refuge company at the half way house in NJ. Congratulations kids! But -- we have seen some sadness here this week as well Spaz who ventured up for surgery from his hospice home in NJ passed away soon after his bi lateral procedure was over. He leaves behind a saddened hospice Mom and a greif ridden cage mate who we are working with presently. Pasteur is apparently doing well on the soup mixture he has been receiving - a second blood profile was drawn 30 days following the first... we are eager to see the results. The vet admired the bulking he has done-- he cleans the soup bowl completely every day and eats kibble as well. We know he still has some underlying kidney / liver conditions which will require him to stay at the shelter under veterinary watch -- but hope to learn how much difference the soup has actually made! The shelter kids are undergoing ADV testing to date 4 have been done, more will follow next week. Shelter folks are undertaking a project which will help us raise funds to offset the cost for (the same 50 ferrets which we anticipate will enter the doors as in the past 2 years) obviously it will add a great deal of expense (approx. $2,500 per year) on top of the vaccinations and medical care -- but one which will protect all the others, helping ensure adoptees are healthy in the long run and allow us to remain open here at Ferret Wise. Webmaster Karen has added the new "Ferretville" clothing items to the Ferret Wise "Fun-alia" online catalog at: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~crassi/funalia.html Shelter Dad and director Roger plan to be at the Ft. Washington, PA Pet Expo -- where they will premier the "Welcome to FerretWise" powerpoint show -- and they will have sewn goods and printed materials available. Please stop by Mar 3-5 they will be in the main hall / small animal section. From all the folks here -- to all our friends and other ferret lovers on FML- we send our heartfelt sympathy and support on your losses, our heartfelt joy at your additions and health conquests. We look forward to another year in the sheltering community. Fondly in ferrets, the folks at Ferret Wise http://www.dartmouth.edu/~crassi/index.html a 501c3 organization [Posted in FML issue 2933]