Gordon, I am sorry for your loss, but please tell me that "what any good owner had to do" was not to end his suffering with a blow from a shovel. If I'm wrong, I apologize. If not, I would think that anyone who drives a corvette could afford the cost of an veterinarian to humanely put that poor ferret down. You talk about your pain and suffering, but what about Kodo's???? Part of loving and caring for your pets sometimes includes painful things that might hurt us, but no comparison to the pain of your pet. I know that sometimes it's "borderline", whether to have the animal put down or give it a few more days. But you've had several ferrets who have suffered long and hard before you "helped them over the bridge." And that sound you heard from Kodo's throat? That was most likely fluid built up in his chest where he was not only starving but drowning in his own fluids. This is what veterinarians are for- to care for and aid an animal in distress. How would you like to lay in your bed day after day, aching and not being able to breathe, much less eat, and you keep seeing your loved one peering at you saying " Oh you poor thing" but then your beloved WALKS AWAY! If you DO have doubts as to the quality of you pet's life, a veterinarian can help give you options that are best for the pet. We've all screwed up at one time or another in the judgement call of an animal's quality of life, and perhaps have let it go past a point where it shouldn't, but, Gordon, you win the prize. I'm not usually so harsh, but the idea of Kodo suffereing for days makes me sick. Marlene B. RFRL www. rfrfl.net [Moderator's note: I was pretty suprised by the strong reactions people had to Marlene's original post -- I took the post more as a reminder to us that the euthanasia option exists if things get too bad. Perhaps it was poorly worded, but it didn't seem like an attack. After reading this post, I think I have to change my opinion somewhat. For the record, the decision to euthanize is a very personal decision and the owner of a ferret is usually the one who knows the ferret the best and can tell "when it's time." Sure, emotions can sometimes get in the way, but wouldn't Kodo's owner be in a much better position to decide Kodo's fate than someone trying to decide for him on the basis of one FML post?! BIG] [Posted in FML issue 4490]