Dooks and greetings to all. My sincere condolences to all whose beloved fur kids have gone to the Bridge. I've been sick with bronchitis and haven't had time to write to all individually. First, I'm doing another post I never thought I'd be doing. I have to ask you great FML folks to please send good thoughts to my Bailey (the Bop). If you remember, I rescued Bailey & Alix last year and I'm their 4th home. When Bailey came to me she had hair loss that I wrote to the FML about, and Sukie (bless you) sent me a description of hair loss patterns. Well, the Bop has never gotten the hair all back, and we've been treating her- the vet and I-for possible allergies. But lately her vulva has started to swell. Dr. Kubisz has never been able to feel her spay job and is thinking there might be a piece of ovary in there that finally started growing and is causing problems. So, next Thursday, May 11, Bailey goes in for exploratory. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I contacted Marshall Farms this morning and spoke directly with a lady there. I asked that if this turns out to be an incorrect spay could they help defray the costs. She asked if I had her MF papers, etc. I explained no, she wanted to know how I knew she was MF. I said by the tattoos and she then told me there was a copy cat out there doing this. Then I explained to her that I had 11 other ferrets, one of which wasn't MF, and the MF's are very distinctive from the unknown one (Alix). That got her! So she asked that after Bailey's surgery would I fax her the information and she'd see if she could help me. They only guarantee their babies for one year, but she said she would see what she could do. I told her I'd let her know the outcome of the Bop's surgery whatever it was. Now, I feel compelled to ask you all for help for an FML member. Erin Larson has several babies, and two of her's, Houdini and Teddy Bear, are showing signs of adrenal. Houdini right now is hair loss, but Teddy Bear sounds like the classic adrenal symptoms. Erin has run into an extreme amount of bad luck at this time, and her funds are really short. She wrote to me last night in tears and told me that these two go in Saturday to the vet, but if it's adrenal, because of the lack of funds at the moment, she will have to have them put to sleep. I have to appeal to anyone who can find it in their heart to help her with the bill should it be adrenal, could you please do so? She has to get all her other babies inoculated, is working on getting a job, has car trouble, her mom isn't able to help out at this moment either. Erin gave me permission to give out her e-mail and her mother, whom she'll inform that she may be getting mail about the babies. This is a legitimate plea for help for someone who loves her fuzzies and is just having a really bad run of luck. Please, if any can help her do so. Erin's e-mail address is: [log in to unmask] and her mother's is [log in to unmask] If you'd like to contact me, please feel free to do so also. Most of you know my home e-mail, but if you've forgotten it's [log in to unmask] She will know the total of the bill, should it come down to surgery, if anyone would like to write to her. She'll also let me know so I can pass that along. ======================= Rebecca McFarlane Secretary Basic Medical Sciences School Veterinary Medicine Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-1246 "Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup" [Posted in FML issue 3042]