The news is good! Ten of you responded by phone or e-mail, and the Philly ferret who was in danger of becoming dog bait has found a home with Samantha Smith. I think she is probably talking to Dottie, the woman who contacted me, at this very moment, and she has said she will post to let you all know more after she has the ferret. Dottie had called me a few weeks ago to find the ferret a home when she learned his owner, a 12 yo boy, said he had become too busy for him. Judging from my conversation with the boy at the time, I think it may have been his parents who were the problem. Although the boy wasn't home much anymore, he still let the ferret run around his room and sleep with him at night. Lately Dottie, who rescues dogs, noticed too much pit bull activity around that house and in their circle of friends. Since she hadn't heard from me, she figured she'd better give me a call. Sure enough, I hadn't found anyone, and I had become so involved in teaching a new course, getting my house ready to sell, and handling the donations for the NJ Xmas rescue that I hadn't followed up with either Dottie or the FML. I called the boy and learned that he had given the ferret to a friend he calls his brother. Dottie likes this family even less and says they own pit bulls. The boy assured me the ferret was happy being allowed to run free around the house. Not that I have anything against free roaming ferret households, but this didn't sound like a ferret household. This morning Dottie practically cornered the boy and convinced him to bring her the ferret. The poor little guy is skin and bones. We wonder if he was ever fed in his new home. Although he was shaking like a leaf, Dottie said he was very friendly. She has him in a cat cage and is feeding him tiny amounts of food in case he is truly starving. I left a series of messages for Samantha as all of this progressed, and she is preparing to drive the two hours to pick him up asap. I suggested she have cheap cat food and NutriCal on hand, and she will be taking him to her vet, whom she likes very much. Many, many thanks to everyone who offered to help, even from hours and hours away. I am absolutely not able to bring a new ferret into my house right now, and I was feeling very guilty for not following up and very concerned about how to handle this. As always, the people of the FML have come through when they are really needed. Blessings Judith [Posted in FML issue 3325]