Oh my gosh, Roary, you sound like you've just described my attitude. My animals, in particular my ferrets, can ask anything of me. I've sat and rocked them and fed them one little drip at a time from my finger as the rest of the food ran all over me, I've been late for work (a no-no if any human had expected me to), I've taken my precious sick days to stay home with one of my sick ferrets (family sick day). There is nothing I would not do for them but I really don't like humans or their children. I wonder how many of us on this list could see ourselves when they read your letter. Laurel [Posted in FML issue 4929]