My name is Caroline Sargent Hale. I am Alexandra's little sister and have been lurking silently for several months. In these months I have been astounded by the amount of cat-fighting and back-stabbing which has gone on on this forum; a forum run by adults for adults. It has to be said that my sister loves ferrets more deeply than you will ever know. And sad to say some of you will never fully comprehend the extent to which you have hurt her. The wound is deep, you have placed it there, and I and our family have to deal with the pieces. I do not aim these words at Alex's friends. They are good people. You know who you are. I have met some of you. I was there at the vets' offices with Ping and I know what went through my sister's heart. It was grief and love. Fierce, protective love. Have you ever loved somebody so much that you were willing to let them go? So much that you were not willing to let your ego get in the way of what was better for them? Alexandra did! And several people have punished her publicly for this. And they have punished her because an old, sick dog behaved like an animal. Oh, to be perfect. Super errogation. Please remove my name from this list. Thank you. Caroline Sargent Hale Princeton, Massachusetts [Posted in FML 6088]