Just a warning.... You will be in for a pleasant experience when you meet the charming eloquent Nell at the symposium. It was my privilege to meet her at Zoos Ferret Sanctuary last weekend. You will definitely feel the warm fuzzies when you engage this most interesting lady. Nell...it was a delight to meet you. You ARE an elegant Bohemian. I do not think I ever met anyone like you. It was a rare treat. Hope you are taking good notes on all the emergencies and ailments and how to treat them, and on the meds you will need when you go home. Know you must be having fun helping to scoop 100 litter boxes, change 100 cuddle cups and blankets and hammies, and discovering much fun it is to lift up all that litter and refuse. (All while Zoo is handling all those emergency phone calls, and educating people who may think they know it all on how to really care for a ferret. Does that woman ever sleep?) Bongo was one of the ferrets Zoo worked with for many weeks to keep alive that I found. I took him home Saturday night. Instead of trotting around to see the sites, he lay listless and spit up a bit. So I was one of a number of those emergency calls to Zoo. She suspects a problem due to his head jerking when he eats his food. He appears to have a problem swallowing. Now I think we have insulinoma. So it is off to the vet this Wed. He was so close to death for many weeks. Every day he lives in comfort is a blessing. He would have died shortly after I found him if not for Zoo. She tested, tested, tested, and tested while trying different things to get him better. Anyway....hope those of you going to the symposeum enjoy Nell. Sorry I cannot afford to go this year. I have too many here to care for that are not well now, and would not trust a pet sitter. And each day off of work costs me $300 some dollars. I always have hope for the next year! Lisette [Posted in FML 6137]