>From: Debi & David Christy <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Training for Traveling With Ferrets While I'm sure this post was well intentioned, I have some major problems with it. >Ferret Proofing Vehicles: >Ferret proofing a vehicle to let the fuzzy roam can be done but it takes >some doing. I strongly disagree with this practice! It took just one instance to "cure" me. And that one instance could have killed me, my passenger, and my precious ferret. Many years ago, I let a ferret roam loose and he got caught on something in the back of the van. His scream of pain diverted my attention from the road. When I looked up, I was headed for the edge of the road. That was bad enough, but it just happened that I was on a bridge and at least 250 feet above a deep river. I slammed on my brakes and managed to go down the road sideways, part of the time on 2 wheels, before regaining control. Don't be stupid like I was! It could cost you, your ferret, and other people on the road their life. Ferrets should be treated just like 2-legged children. They should *always* be secure in a travel carrier or a cage. Your attention should be on the road and not on a ferret running loose in the car. >With the more discreet bags (the ones with a solid side) we can even >sneak them inside a restaurant. ...Traveling in a bag also should have >a few trial runs before you try dinner at Red Lobster. arghh. I have a lot of allergies and asthma. I have to pick and choose where I go because of these reactions. Thank goodness I'm not allergic to my ferrets. There are other people who are allergic to ferrets and other animals. You could trigger a nasty and even life threatening reaction if someone was not expecting a dander-producing animal in a restaurant. The same applies for sneaking a ferret on board an aircraft, only that practice could cost you a small life savings if you get caught (I think up to $100,000 fine). -Carla (not the shelter mom) [Posted in FML issue 3033]