I think what Rev. J. Gordon Bengston was trying to get at was way ferrets are sort of naiive.....he did state that they do demonstrate unconditional love and appreciation. I think I understand what he is saying. While everything you say is true about animals and emotions, I think that the brains of ferrets are probably not able to comprehend many of the things we do - but that is how they live, and they are none the worse for it. What I mean is, we communicate in our ways, and ferrets in theirs - we are both organisms with highly specialized areas....ours more in social interaction and communication, and use of tools and dexterity. Ferrets live in a world where their jaws are used much more than ours (for carrying things, communication, etc), they use smells and low sounds to communicate, they wrestle and play to say they are mad, happy, they dance, use hair bristling, and other things - but as far as understanding to a great extent what is going on around them, I just haven't seen it from mine. They are intelligent, and in MY opinion they are self-aware (a term that all of my professors would kill me for using to describe any non-human animal). Being self-aware, to me, is only natural if you have the degree of emotions that a lot of mammals have. It seems they have more emotions than a cat, but then again, perhaps it's just because ferrets are more akin to people with their grasping abilities than a cat is, and as such I tend to anthropomorphize them more. After all, ferrets sleep in little beds, hammocks, and sleep sacks and use blankies..... I do see your point though. We are all trapped in our own bodies - as much as people would like to fly, we can't - or breathe underwater, etc. In the same token, as much as your ferret might want to say something, most of them can't bark of their own volition (I have one that screams when scared, but she has never made a sound when not scared). I have seen videos of ferrets who do make noises when they aren't frightened, but that's not the norm. As much as they might want to hold onto something or turn a doorknob, they can't.... Intelligence is not quantifiable. In the end, I really don't care as long as I have my little ones. They're like my kids and I love them so much. L [Posted in FML 6007]