I don't want to sound like i don't care , i do but do we really think this guy was trying to hurt the ferret , i don't think so . I do believe his intentions were good but he might have bought the ferret then found out that is was harder to take care of . We all know there are people who buy ferrets and with the best intentions but do harm through ignorance. If this guy was really ruthless he would have done something to cover the whole mess up , i don't think we need to bring forth all the ways he could have covered this up if he didn't care. We must also consider that this is a military person , detached from home and his surroundings, probably feels alone and scared with all what's going on in the world and found hope, love and attachment to this beautiful creature. Let's try and find some place in our hearts to forgive , I'm sure he feels very bad about the whole thing. contacting the commanding officer is a rather risky , I think this guy has been disciplined because if we know about this then the command does to . and if we choose to crucify this guy don't we need to hammer every person who has made a wrong decision because they just didn't know better? And also remember , we need to support our troops for we are about to embark on a very hazardous battle, one of mass destruction and countless lives lost and this time i don't think it will be so one sided . Hell , I wouldn't want to be there , would you! As a side note , I served on the USS Mobile LKA 115 , it was a troop support transport, there was a guy on our ship who kept a mouse he had found on the base. he kept it in his bunk locker, nobody reported it and it was never talked about but when he brought it out after hours many sailors would skip a bit of sleep to see and hold this mouse . it meant so much to so many , a small piece of hope and compassion in a hectic world . As for me , I say let the guy be , but it's only my opinion. Ferreterr [Posted in FML issue 3975]