I have been a member of the FML for a number of years now, posting sometimes frequently and since I lost my first furbaby Dante to a pancreatic tumor, I haven't been able to post at all. It's just too hard. But I read from the sidelines. I have to step up and say something here. David has had a number of "Vinnie da Rat" ferrets, and I have seen a number of posts over the years of David loosing his ferrets. I know it is not kind to judge people, but I just have to ask the question. Is Mr Owings meant to be a ferret daddy? If you loose one ferret, but have many others with success, no worries. I had six ferrets at one point and none of them ever got out or lost. Sheer luck, I know. I am quite anal about them and ferret proofing the house and everything. They are basically, like for many of us, my children. Everyone is entitled to one slip up. I remember Donna Christensen loosing her ferret for months out in Wisconsin (or was it Michigan? I'm from New England...anything out past PA is about the same lol) but she miraculously found him. We were all pulling for her. However, when you have lost ferret after ferret, I think it is wise to sit down and do some hard thinking. I honestly believe that not everyone is meant to be a ferret owner. They are not the easiest animals in the world to care for (but man, do they run away with your heart every time so I can understand why people fall in love with them the way that they do). I cannot help but wonder (normally to myself but feel its nescessary to post the question) if Mr. Owings is meant to be a ferret daddy. I am not passing judgement. Far from it. But, after loosing ferret after ferret, it's time to sit down and do the thinking...should I get another one to replace my lumberyard ferret who has gone missing there? Or do I simply realize that I am not capable of caring properly for a ferret? I realize that it has not been mentioned about finding another replacement yet, but Mr. Owings manages to get replacement ferrets and that concerns me. And then he manages to loose them to one incident or another. Please do not leave Vinnie in the lumberyard...he will never survive. Keep looking. But on the other hand, if you cannot retrieve him, think about the replacement ferret that will most likely come and if you can truly take care of him. That's all I am asking to think about. Because, after all, isn't this list about caring for ferrets? Sue down to the last three Templeton, Nala and Hooper remembering my ferrets angels Dante, Toby and Paul Paul [Posted in FML issue 5114]