Condolences to those with lost, sick, or angeled tool users... (Hey! I gots a screwdriver! What can we use it for? Come on...gimme some ideas!) Connie, the most-effective way you are going to keep your ferret(s) out of the dishwasher, is to keep them away *from* the dishwasher. You can resort to something as simple as putting up a plastic barrier (use a thin sheet, which you can bend into a half-circle, then put one edge into the gap to the side of the dishwasher, bend it around and put it into the gap in the other side, between the dishwasher and the cabinet its mounted into), to keeping them out of that room altogether (my ferrets aren't allowed to go into the laundry room, as they find the areas under the washer and dryer irresistible!). Basically, they can't get into, what they can't reach! Of course, you would have to remove the plastic barrier around the dishwasher whenever you wish to use it. Try to schedule your dishwashing to occur when your kids are sleeping, or in their cage(s). --- Todd and the Fuzzbutt Rodeo Clowns mailto:[log in to unmask] http://www.netconex.com/toddl/page2/ [Posted in FML issue 4803]