I wish to address the comments of Lisa Wagner (01/13). Are you for real????? My comparison of a ferret to a family member was made to drive home a point... "older" people , if able to withstand sugery DO HAVE SURGERY!! Why not pets?? Your claim of a 5 year old ferret being considered "elderly" is a good point, however to deny one a necessary medical proceedure to improve the quality of life simply because it is "too old" is heartless. I do not know Weezer's circumstance (he may not even be a surgical candidate but that is for his owner & vet to decide)., but to tell people not do it based solely on age & not medical condition is wrong. You say 9 out of 10 vets would agree.........I do not know which vets you see, but, boy, I am sure glad they are not MY vets!! My Taz had adrenal surgery (his left was removed) at nearly 6, he is now almost 9 & did great..........so sorry, dear, that does not wash with me. He is having surgery tommorrow for the right adrenal, & my vet has no hesitations that Taz will do great. About you being "irked" about comparing a pet to a family member, well, some of us think more of our fuzzies than others, obviously...................... [Posted in FML issue 3664]