There is an ad in our local paper for Farrets for sale (yes, FARRETS) 3 story cage, and 2 farrets $300 obo. I am already in debt $1400 to the vet clinic for Poppys surgery, Bandits blood work and Uly the dogs ear meds and check up. I have some others that need surgery too, Bandit, Jalepeno' Jupiter, and possibly Crimson (she has blown her beautiful coat) and i am worried about the 2 in the paper now. I had Crimmy (Crimson) on the bed and just sat and cried over my little lady, and her coat so scruffy looking. She was never a kisser, but i love her all the more for her independence. My Poppy is doing well after all her surgical removals, now i am worried about the others and getting them cared for. I will know by the 20Feb, if i have a job still. They are making the announcements then, and repositioning everyone /retained for employment into their new job titles. I am and am not worried about employment, i am not afraid to take something (beneath?) me, what does that mean, i am not college educated but for a few classes, so...i am not afraid of working or throwing myself into my job either. I can take my sales skills and apply them to another job if necessary. It is my babies that i am most concerned for, right now and always. AS a matter of fact, since my husband is retired military, working for Amtrak, which is ponderable as to whether or not they will stay solvent, we both applied for airport security positions which are going federal soon. He will get the military preference, but...doesn't hurt to always be one step ahead, for those rainey days. Me, i need something more compassion applied, i think, it is just my nature, nurture-ing. We will see. Anyone living in or around the Kenosha, Wisconsin area that could possibly help these 2 FARRETS out? I considered going and talking to them about surrendering them, and showing them the bill that i am going to face in the future, and telling them, that rather than have someone just decide that the surgeries are too costly, so just let them go, i would rather take them off their hands, and they can do whatever with the cage, sell it for what they can get. I just worry that i w/not be able to give them the care that they really need. I already have a house full of wonderful little warm furry bodies :-) I am worried about shelter shock? I have had enough experience for awhile with it, losing Athena & Diana to that dreadful disease of the heart. My Fergie, my little reserved girl comes down the hallway to crawl into the bed with us on some nights, she liked the cage, because ??? I think she and Diana were left in their other so much and for so long, that it was over whelming "free roam??". But to wake in the middle of the night to find teeny Fergie curled up under the fleece blankie close to my husband just warms my heart, she has finally accepted us, and knows that we will love and care for all her needs. I suffer, thinking about all the dreadful possibilities of these little fur children, the ones that died needlessly from the petstore, the ones who have been taken from their home by the burglar?, and the lost ones. I think of Betty who lost her Bella, as i was finding my Epimetheus. How can i rejoice when another feels such heartache? I got another email from Dawna in Colorado, Slippery is still missing, and she is also unconsolable, "oh, how i know that feeling". Before you turn in for the night, hug your children, furred and skinned, give thanks for what you have today, and pray for those who have not. Envy no one. Rejoice for life, and be compassionate for others. Life is happening all around us, much of what we are not aware, but it is there none the less. Once again i can never thank you all enough for the loving support in my lost days, 10 weeks worth of finding Epimetheus aka Eppy. He is doing wonderful, and i am still working on getting something on the fml with PICTURES, before and after...of him, trying to get a visual of that snaggle tooth, so you can all realize, IT WAS THE ONLY WAY I WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED HIM. Respectfully Eppy and Donna and her Wisconsin Weasel family , dogs , cats and 1 rat included. [Posted in FML issue 3690]