Here is a human cognitive load study from Brandeis which *MIGHT* also have implications for the training considerations partially hearing ferrets or other animals. If a way could be found to better chunk then the training techniques *MIGHT* help even more. That might be a long shot, but it might also be worth figuring out ways to try it to see if it might help. >Waltham, Mass. -- In a new study, Brandeis University researchers >conclude that older adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss may >expend so much cognitive energy on hearing accurately that their >ability to remember spoken language suffers as a result. > >..."The effect of expending extra effort comprehending words means >there are fewer cognitive resources for higher level comprehension." Might it be that trying to learn sounds which are sometimes garbled also impacts recall and connecting the sounds to meaning for ferrets? http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-08/bu-hli082905.php --- Speaking as someone who has adopted special needs ferrets: Some are compromised enough that the stress of learning a new family would simply be unfair to them, BUT for some it may be that shelters could arrange for potential adopters to come in and work and play with those individuals repeatedly over time to see if they might work out for the little one, and to in the meantime check to make sure that they can be relied on to provide the needed vet care. When all the important points come together then it might help shelters to be able to find some special homes for certain special needs ferrets. Special needs ferrets DO have special needs and not everyone can meet them. How is that for an understatement? Thinking back to our two most complicated (multiply deformed) ones: One took 3 years to teach to not give drive-by deep canine bites, needed very special care medically, and was never able to understand ferret body language. Another also required very special medical care and his vet care alone amounted to $11,500 over his lifetime. So, basically, it is naive to lump special needs ferrets together and assume that they all must be adoptable or unadoptable, and finding those people who can handle special needs is likely to be a very time consuming process (as should be proving that one can handle such ferrets), and some ferrets simply could not deal with the stress. If someone wants to adopt one of these individual I think the method that is most fair to the ferret is to provide a vet statement about your abilities, then visit and help with this individual often to see if the individual accepts you as a source of comfort and care, and honestly (even though I haven't heard of this being done), for some ferrets I think that if the shelter wants to ask if you can afford the care needed that isn't out of line, simply because it isn't optional but instead is actually needed. BTW, there ARE medical conditions which make a change of home, of temperature, etc. a risk factor. Those problems include advanced cardiomyopathy, and ulcers. Also, the people who best know these ferrets and their needs are those who care for them each day and their vets; assessments from afar are usually valueless. Pretending otherwise is just arguing for argument's sake. On the other hand, if a shelter has someone like -- say -- an adrenal ferret who is in a shelter that can only afford melatonin, but an adopter knows the condition, has a great vet, and can afford surgery, Lupron Depot, or both then obviously in this case the adoptive home -- if the ferret takes to the adopter and can handle stress enough healthwise -- is the better option for the ferret. It's a case by case problem. Some people who think that they are the best solution for animals are hoarders, and that is always a sad -- but luckily rare -- sickness to be aware of. For the most part, though, I think that those with shelters really are good and knowledgeable and really do restrict the ferrets who can't be adopted out to those who would be placed at too much risk to even try it. Beware the rumor mill and sensationalism because both usually are wrong. If facts are slim and the post is a slam treat it as you would treat ferret feces. That goes for news stories and rumors. [Posted in FML issue 4985]