I normally try to stay out of stuff like this, but Jennifer was extremely helpful (as were a number of other people in the FML) in private email in response to some questions I had posted (BTW Daniel, if you are reading this, I did go to the store In the Saint Laurent Centre and not only did I get a hammock, but I was very pleasantly impressed with how ferret-friendly they are, so thanks! :) and I think it would be irresponsible of me not to share this testimony. I didn't see Jen's post as a direct and specific attack on you, Mo. She was venting (with dammed good reason IMO; she had come under attack for things which were not her fault when all she was trying to do was the best to help out a fuzzie in need and it seems that she ended up getting the short end of the stick from both Taylor's previous owner and from some dissapointed FMLers) in general terms. You say that you felt insulted because all you wanted to do was help a ferret in need, since you love fuzzies in general. This being the case, I don't see why you should feel offended by Ms. Hudson's words, Mo, since they clearly do not apply to you. But she makes some very good points IMO. A number of people find it inconvenient (financially, personally, or both) to adopt older ferrets. I'll freely admit that in my current financial situation I would think twice about whether it would be responsible for me to adopt an older fuzzie. Old age seems at times to be an inconvenience in this day and age, whether it be for ferrets (who are stuck in shelters for what may remain of their lives) or for people, who end up stuck in old folks homes). And there are *a lot* of ferrets out there who would be very happy spending their last few years in a loving home rather than in a loving shelter, but who never will because their age makes them an inconvenience for most folks to adopt, unfortunately. I think we could all use the reminder, from time to time. Cheers, Jaime [Posted in FML issue 2942]