First and foremost, thank you ... big weepy thank you's ... to the several people who send condolence cards on Toast's passing. Please know that I will respond to each of you; this is just the first time I've been able to type coherently since the little bugger crossed over. Who would think one small, simple, silly yet profoundly endearing little creature could have gotten so deeply into my heart so very quickly? Toast was only with me for about eight months ... one of several that came as a group right before I had to move and close down the shelter. I'd determined only a few days before that we'd not be taking in any more so I could prepare for our move, and then the call came in from a woman whose mother had passed on. Two groups of ferrets (nine in all). Five went to a really terrific gal who also runs a shelter, and these four ... mostly because I immediately fell in love with Toast ... I broke the cardinal rule of shelters for and kept. They were immediately part of the family. The dogs and cats both fear and protect them (I hear Toasty's response to that in my mind "We da aminal gods! Them must fear and potect!"), and they get along happily with the rats and iguana ... weird, but there you have it! Toast was a very, very, very dear and special baby, and will be missed always. So ... thank you again for the E-cards ... I have printed and am making a memorial book for this first ferret I've ever lost. Toast's best buddy-bro Jelly is doing o.k., I think. I have been taking him to work with me, and moved his house from the ferret room to the living room so he's always at the center of things. He has developed a slight ... I guess its a cold. ONe eye is a little runny, and he's sneezed a little. Seems perfectly fine otherwise ... the living room is about five degrees cooler than the ferret room at night, and he doesn't have Toasty's toasty body warmth to curl into now. :*( He did have a one-day bout with diarreah, which scared me terribly ... then looking frantically for causes decided to quiz the family. ALL of us were so concerned for his health after loosing Toast that we decided a bit more suppliment was needed ... unfortunately we didn't talk to each other about it. I just figured "he's mine, I've always been the caretaker, I am now." The children wanted to help me by making sure I didn't loose him to grief but didn't want to communicate their concerns to me ... or each other ... and worry us more. EACH of us (me and three children and even DH!) had been giving Jelly a teaspoon of NutraVite morning and night for two days! Ever read the ingredients? Little guy got major vitamins AND his pipes cleaned! Anyway, I moved Hamza's house in the living room yesterday. He and Jelly have never roomed together, only as next-door neighbors with cages touching, but play together very well. I'm planning on tubing their cages together in the living roomin the next day or two (once Jell's cold has cleared up). Then he'll be warm and snuggy again, even if Hammy's musty musk is slightly different than Toasties' was. WOW ... this turned into a long post. Sorry :) Anyhow ... the Georgia thing ... my husband has just gotten a six month to several years job offer in Georgia. Could be a tremendous opportunity, and doing what he loves. The deal would include transport of family (including furry family) ... but what are Georgia's rules about ferrets (transporting, keeping, etc.)??? Are special permits needed? What sort of travel papers, if any? They'd be going overland (driving rather than flying) from Arizona. Any help on this MUCH appreciated ... this is one of the big factors in deciding if we're going or not. The other being that we just got into a lease-purchase (with an escrow due to close in August), and I really am not happy about the letting go aspect. Thank you ... Peri [Posted in FML issue 4050]