Many of us view ferrets, and other animal companions, as family members Perhaps that is where the perception that they are our children comes from. If you think about it, ferrets are like kids. They rely on us for their care, nurturing and healing, playing and loving, as human children do. Our home is relatively quiet with me being the only human occupant (maid/cook) but when company arrives the ferrets want to be the center of attention and will actually do cute things to get a response. When the response is received they do more. When I'm on the phone or busy cleaning or making their recipe, at least one of the little ones always wants my attention. I can't read a book at home because somebody else is always nosing through the pages. And try to do paperwork! Oh my. One night I went through my file boxes to find a document and I had three ferrets searching with me. Never mind they didn't know WHAT I was looking for, they were going to help and from time to time they would actually pull out a piece of paper (probably to show me in case it was the one I was looking for). And what about the pick me up/put me down thing? Isn't that like a baby tossing a toy on the floor for you to pick up and give back then they do it again and again? And I've actually experienced a furchild tossing a toy on the floor for me to pick up and when I give it back to them they toss it down again! My perception of the Rainbow Bridge - When a being dies, their body (shell) stays here on earth. Their spirit is what moves on to the next realm. In the next realm there is no pain or suffering, there is no anger or grief, there is only love for all. Whether one believes in the Rainbow Bridge, an Afterlife, or not, each of us should be kind enough to respect anothers belief even though it may not be the same as our own. I try not to say things that will harm another, and at times it is so difficult I say nothing or I have to write my post several times before I am satisfied with it. With difficult posts, I often write them, leave them for awhile then come back a few hours later and read and rewrite. And sometimes I delete them and let it go. Hugs to all. tle Troy Lynn Eckart, F.B.S. Ferret Family Services http://www.ferretfamilyservices.org http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/ Please sign up to support our efforts http://www.iGive.com/FFS [Posted in FML issue 3909]