Thank you to Pam, Kathy, Erica, Lynn our FML bird woman, Jodie, Kara, Gina, Nancy, and Georgia-who always makes me laugh- for helping to save a life. But especially my thanks to BIG for allowing the bird blurb to go through. If it were not for FML-I never would have known I have a racing pigeon that is hand raised, or know what it eats, that it cannot be in drafts, or all the info that made it possible to find a home. Until I knew what this being was --I was dead meat. The bird was dead meat. Not a single vet would see it. They don't see wild birds here in Illinois, I was told. You guys saved a life. BIG--thank you for this with all my heart. A possible gift for all of you in return: One of the things I learned calling vets to no avail may save the life of a ferret for one of you. I did not realize it, but apparently, a number of people call the vet saying they have taken in a lost animal that needs to be looked at---and they expect the vet to do this free of charge. I don't know how many receptionists on the phone said they would not see me because they feared this. Finally-one receptionist told me that this is why she would not see the bird. She ASSUMED I would be expecting a small business to care for an animal at no charge. Sooo-if you find a stray ferret(or other animal) and call the vet--be sure you state that you will of course be paying for the exam and any treatment or tests decided on. I will not know how many people turned me down because the person answering the phone had had a lot of bad experiences, and wrongly asumed I was not going to pay to care for the bird.. Tomorrow is --paint my mothers living room day. So forgive me if I do not return e-mails now for awhile. I have a 13 hour work day Monday since I spent the morning finding help for the bird, and a 3 hour drive each way for the bird on Tuesday after work. Yaaawwwwn Lisette and the ferret beauties [Moderator's note: Generally I do NOT allow FML posts about animals other than ferrets. But I'm lightening up a bit - partly by request, partly by altering how I view the "important personal news" guideline and partly by realizing how few posts of such a nature are attempted anyhow. In other words, if non-ferret companion in a *subscriber's* "possesion" (and, yes, a significant other is a non-ferret companion :-)) is in serious need of help of some sort, I'll consider the posting. I often refer people to other lists first, but if the FML is a "last resort" or time is critical, then I think that's the least that can be done for long-time subscribers. Most of us realize how overwhelming that occasional emergency situation with our precious critters can be, right? BIG] [Posted in FML issue 3514]