Lisette, I had to laugh while reading your post (although it's really very sad), because I totally identified with it. I once went to the pet store for fish food and came home with a pitiful looking puppy that had been there forever. When my husband asked me the big question - WHY - all I could say was "she kept looking at me." I now have a furry ferret crew of 8 when I swore I was going to have a crew of 1. Now when people start relating the sad story of someone they know who "just can't keep their ferret anymore," I pretend I'm listening and keep repeating over and over in my head - "remember the six months it took to integrate my precious half ferret, half flying squirrel; remember the multiple play groups, remember ..." I also find that it helps to have PetSmart deliver right to my door, and hope that there are no four-legged strays hanging around outside the door when I open it! Posted anonymously to protect the innocent in CA [Posted in FML issue 3345]