I am writing in response to the posts by people who are giving up their pets, and the responses they are getting. I am 20 years old. I got my first ferret when I was in high school. She proceeded to destroy enough carpet to necessitate the recarpeting of the entire upstairs of my mom's house. My mom's response "Oh well. It needed to be replaced anyhow." Shortly afterwards, I moved into my own apartment. And added another ferret. And a cat. My time was spent sitting on the floor to keep the ferrets out of the kitchen (impossible to ferretproof) with a squirt bottle to stop digging. This was between cleaning up the plant that my cat decided to up root on a daily basis (sentimental value-small apartment...) Then I moved to another apartment, more expensive. Again with the squirtbottle. Add cat number two. Who will never, ever stop clawing the furniture. Oh well. It will have to be replaced eventually anyway. Then back to my dad's house for 6 months. Had to protect the carpet from digging AND accidents. Add another ferret. Minus one to an illness. Then to yet another apartment. With a boyfriend AND a male roommate. Add another ferret. And a kitten (actually my roommates, but guess who takes care of her?). Did I mention yet that during all of this time I have been a full time student and holding down a full time job? With a total of four ferrets and three cats, and two male roommates! And my ferrets come out till they fall asleep EVERY DAY. Please, please don't let people like Brandi who cannot understand commitment ruin the reputation of young people. I love my animals. I am married to them in a sense...Until (their natural) death do us part. Beth and the Gang Maybe, Alciabides, CT, and Lucifer ...and The Dude, who crossed over the Rainbow on 12/31/01 "Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them wherever they require it." -- St. Francis of Assisi Help Save the Tongass National Forests! Help Today: http://www.care2.com/go/z/2394 [Posted in FML issue 3867]