Roary my friend, while I agree with much of what you said. I would go the education route first rather than making it so that people of modest means couldn't own a ferret. We are all not perfect. Looking back on my little ones, just as with my grown children, I see many things I would do/am doing differently. But, unfortunately, being human and prone to error, we may not make those mistakes, but we will make DIFFERENT ones. My point being, no matter how "perfect" a parent we try to be to our children, both four and two legged, we screw up. And all of us with modest means don't deprive our fuzzies any more than we would deprive our two legged children. I joke that "Most people have an RC Willey Bill (that's a famous furniture chain out here), I have a revolving vet bill." I am lucky to have a vet that lets me write checks in advance to cover what has been done. I realize that was not the point of your post. I also realize you were being rather sardonic. I do get the idea. I just wanted to throw my two cents worth into the ring, before some people who are "new" might feel like they should not own a ferret if they are not very wealthy. I'm not saying keep adding ferrets beyond your capacity to care for them emotionally, physically, and medically. I also feel that if you are going to own one and do not already, check into the cost of veterinary care. See what, if any, arrangements your vet will allow. Make sure your vet has had experience with ferrets, etc., etc., etc. Believe me, this was NOT meant in any way to be an attack. Just a few comments from "Behind the Zion Curtain." Catherine Behind The Zion Curtain "No one looks good in paisley...." - Elle Woods [Posted in FML issue 4793]