Hi, I guess everytime I write to the fml it is because someone ticks me off, and this time is no different. Today (1/26) while reading the fml I saw a post from Kathy to Lisa. She flamed Lisa saying: "Maybe you should have done more research before buying ferrets you would have known they are predisposed to adrenal disease as well as other diseases." "Most ferrets make a great recovery after adrenal surgery provided the surgery was done soon enough it sounds as though you were in denial about your ferret having adrenal disease." I am not sure if Kathy and Lisa know each other or not but it did hit a sore point with me. I have owned ferrets for exactly one year now. I currently have five ranging from 1yr to 4 yrs old. During the summer one of my ferrets got sick and I did not realize it. She was not losing fur and was eating and playing normally. The only way I found out that she was sick was through a friend that was very ferret knowledgeable. She owns 15 of her own and is used to symptoms. Sassy's "symptom" was extreme paleness of the gums and pads which my friend thankfully noticed while visiting. I had read everything I could get my hands on about ferrets and disease but I did not know to check gums and pads. I have since then learned to check on a daily basis when taking my babes out of the cage. I felt very badly and was so scared that I would lose her but she came through with flying colors. It did take her a bit to recover and her fur took weeks to grow back where it had been shaved. I have learned that the common symptoms for adrenal are not always what is written on paper and that sometimes the symptoms that present themselves are not adrenal although they can appear to be so. (i.e. friends ferret lost her fur and she has already had both adrenals removed). My point is~we are not all perfect. For the most part peoples intentions are good and they do their best. Ferrets can not tell us when they are sick and sometimes do not show it until it is almost too late. I would not want to hurt my babes for anything and I am sure Lisa did not want to either. She probably wrote to this list looking for support and some reassurance and all she got was a kick in the butt. What is that all about??? Isn't this forum to help us not to hurt us? Constructive criticism is one thing when it can be helpful but hurtful words are entirely another. I hardly write to the fml anymore for fear of being abused. I wrote once asking for advice and included the fact that I had a toddler as well as ferrets. I received HATE mail from someone who would not let up. She felt that I should give my ferrets away for fear that my son would kill them. Finally, I had to lie to her and tell her that I traced her email and that if she didn't leave me alone I would call the police and an attorney. That certainly is no fun. I enjoy reading the fml and learning from all you knowledgeable people, but I really dislike reading posts from fmlr's that think they are so perfect and can do no wrong. Caring and loving for ferrets is a learning and fun experience. I don't know about the rest of you but I think I learn something new every day from these little guys and gals and the enjoyment I get from them is never ending. Don't put people down who are also learning. Everyone has to start somewhere. Sorry for the length of my post but I really needed to get that off my chest. Thanks for reading!!!!!!! Hugs and kisses to all the furrkids out there. Paula and the furry five. [Posted in FML issue 2941]