My Dear Brothers and Sisters of the FML (fuzzy DADS and MOMS) Dooks to one and all. I have not been able to read all of the posts because of ill health, which I hope next month will all be taken care of, or at least the cause of the difficulties will be close to being solved. I have read, recently, about some FMLers asking for help or advice. And instead of helping, some choose to criticize and is thereby interpreted as flaming, and this hurts the individual who is crying out for help. Many years ago, I wrote an article about losing 6 female breeding ferrets and one week later 1 hob, and these 7 were used to test out Purina Mills Lab Formula for Ferrets. And someone just blistered me as all balogna and unscientific and that I should not have blamed Purina Mills. I then came back to that individual, through another FML posting, stating all of the facts, that the water was all from the same source, that all ferrets were in same type of cages for night time, all ferrets were in the same room, that all ferrets received identical food amount, as well as equal heat/cooling, and then I ended with a statement that I was present at the autopsies at the Veterinarian's office, and that each ferret's internal organs had burst, indicating the presence of heavy metal in the feed. Then I asked the individual what to their great scientific mind would they conclude was the cause of the deaths of all 7 ferrets that were fed the Purina Lab Food for ferrets. That person did not come back on again, that I ever saw. The point is, what I sent was as a warning to all ferret owners/lovers about the possibility of heavy metals in the food for these 7 ferrets. The person who thought they were so smart, was shown that they do not know everything. And I admit that I do not know everything. But, I do know this: As Jesus said: LET HIM WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE! None of us, Ferret Owners/Ferret Lovers/Animal Lovers/Veterinarians/ Medical Doctors/Teachers/Lawyers/Clergy, know everything. We are all subject to error, and when we call for help, help should be given, that may correct an error, but it can be done in ways that show respect for others, especially those who are emotionally tied up in knots with guilt feelings about did I do the right thing? To everyone that has been Flamed or feel put down by others on the FML, I ask that you forgive those who jump in without thinking about what you are going through, for you love your ferrets just as much as all the rest on this web-site. I know that not everyone that flames someone is trying to look superior to all others, sometimes the wrong words are used and then the meaning of the words are interpreted in another way than that in which it was intended. Brothers and Sisters, in my own peoples cultural sayings: Do not be hasty to judge someone's actions until you have walked many suns in their moccacins. Even though situations may be similar, there are still variables that can, and do, make a difference in the reaction to the situation. When I had a broken lower back, I had one doctor look at the x-rays and state that there was nothing he could do to help me, and that I should not be experiencing the pain that I was having. I asked him if he had ever had his back broken. He said no. I then replied, Then you do not know what you are talking about. His experiences were not the same as mine, and therefore he could not relate to what I was going through (3 years in a wheelchair unable to walk/with extreme pain). Please, be more thoughtful in your responses, so that you are able to make possible recommendations for a possible solution to the problem. I also noticed that someone has different sayings in regard to the environment, and if you would like to add another, here it is. Chief Seatle (white-eyes called him Seattle) wrote in the 1860's to President Abraham Lincoln. After explaining to the President that we do not own the land, we are but caretakers of that which the Great Spirit had given us, he said the following: Mr. President, your God and my God are the same God. And, Mr. President, unless the White Man changes his ways, he will bury himself in his own garbage. Not too bad for a "savage" of 140 to 150 years ago, is it! To all of my Ferret Mommy's and Daddies who have recently lost the physical presence of your beloved fur-kids, my tears are mixed with yours. But I am also rejoicing, for I know that the fur-kids are with the Creator, for as it is written in Psalms 50: 7 - 15 HEAR, O MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL SPEAK. O ISRAEL, I WILL TESTIFY AGAINST YOU. I AM GOD, YOUR GOD. NOT FOR YOUR SACRIFICES DO I REBUKE YOU; YOUR BURNT OFFERINGS ARE CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME. I WILL NOT ACCEPT A BULL FROM YOUR HOUSE, OR GOATS FROM YOUR FOLDS. FOR EVERY WILD ANIMAL OF THE FOREST IS MINE, THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS. I KNOW ALL THE BIRDS OF THE AIR AND ALL THAT MOVES IN THE FIELD IS MINE. IF I WERE HUNGRY, I WOULD NOT TELL YOU, FOR THE WORLD AND ALL THAT IS IN IT IS MINE. DO I EAT THE FLESH OF BULLS OR DRINK THE BLOOD OF GOATS? OFFER TO GOD A SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING, AND PAY YOUR VOWS TO THE MOST HIGH. CALL ON ME IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE; I WILL DELIVER YOU, AND YOU SHALL GLORIFY ME. Yes, God is the Great Spirit, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, God is the Creator, the Savior, the Comforter. But most of all: GOD IS LOVE, and those of us that Love the creatures of this world and that includes other human beings, then we are doing Gods work on earth, and God Loves all of us, including the FERRETS. We all Belong to God! In closing, please be gentle with one another, please be forgiving when someone makes a mistake. For none of us are perfect, only human beings trying to do the best we can, loving creatures that are full of life and joy. Forgive one another, Love one another, Help one another. AMEN. Rev. Dr. Ronald L. Sims & Family: 2 hooman beans owned and controlled by 2 canines, 2 felines, and too many fur-kids of all kinds who are waiting for us at the Rainbow Bridge. [Posted in FML 5996]