Dear readers, While I am not new to reading the FML, I am new to posting. Usually, when I have something to say I E-mail people personally. I usually only do this to offer advice and some helpful hints. I have been reading for a while about deaf ferrets. Some of which I agreed with and some I didn't. I have 25 ferrets. Some bought, some rescued, and some adopted. In this 25 I have 5 deaf ferrets. The first one that I bought I didn't realize was deaf. The other four I bought because they were deaf. Yes, I bought them on purpose. I did this because I know how people and animals that are different from "everyone else" are treated. I wanted them to have a good home and be loved, cared for, and happy. To me they are not defective, they are beautiful because they are different. I grew up in a home (I'm still there) where my mother is very hard of hearing. Not only this but at an early age was stricken down with Multiple Sclerosis. She deteriorated to an almost vegetable state quickly. The point to this is, when we would go food shopping, people would say things. They would say "Look at that women the pitiful drunk. I feel sorry for that little (I was 10) girl." They would often make remarks and stare like she was a freak. To me she was my mother, not a freak. This too is what I am seeing with the ferrets. It is sad that they are deaf, but I do not think it a defect. A defect is a problem you have when you buy a T.V. and it doesn't work right. Ferrets work fine when they are deaf. They just work differently. I had no problem training mine. With all ferrets, love, understanding, and patience is what you need to give. It's the same with the deaf ferrets. Anyone can learn to cope with a deaf ferret, some just think it's easier not too. I don't think that these same people would throw there children away or teach them that they're defective. I bet they would teach them that they're special. They don't do this with ferrets, because they see them as a product, something they paid money for. Please don't get me wrong I do not and will not agree with purposely breeding deafness, but I do disagree with the attitude towards deafness. I hope that with more education and making the public aware of this, it will no longer be seen as such a problem. If anyone is offended by this then I am sorry, that was not my intent. I merely wanted to get my thoughts across. If anyone is having problems with their deaf ferret and would like some advice, you are more than welcome to E-mail me. Sincerely, Liz and her 25 freaky fuzzies [Posted in FML issue 3117]