>Later, though, when there has been a lot of care of ones with great >needs there can be a time of needing a rest for a while and having >fewer, healthier ones to stay get an emotional breather. I must say I am planning this myself. At the most I had 31 ferrets. Had the money for them, and had a blast living with them. Because I took in a lot of unwanted ferrets, I ended up with two general age brackets. Three years ago I went through a lot of passings, and am facing this again this year. It is tough emotionally. Tonight I fed Miss MaryJane her baby food treat, gave her some ferretone and she then laid in a sleep sack on the couch with me. She is frail, blind and perhaps 8-9 years old (unknown because she was found on a street, walking down the middle of it). And since all of mine are oldsters, except for Sugar, they are all dealing with various problems. We have second rounds of adrenal (with 9 year olds),liver disease, lymphoma. It is *extremely* hard emotionally at times, because there are no easy or quick answers. I have already decided that when these guys are gone, I am taking a break. But then, I have literally owned animals since the age of five, when Miss Paddlefoot Bismark Von Merchant (a dachshund) was given to me. And yes I named her myself. Don't ask, I have no clue. I need a break for me. But then as I sat writing this, Miss Sugar came up for a game of chase. Really, what better thing in life than a game of chase with a fert? Maybe I don't need any time off. Sigh. Blessings, Margie [Posted in FML issue 4381]