Dear FML Friends, I am writing to say that we ferret owners know Ed Lipinski's post, to those of us who know and understand ferrets, was at best unacceptable. My concern is the NEW FERRET OWNER - trying to find some advice on a problem and being told to shoot, under pressure from a water pistol, cold water into the animals ear. I am a Hospice Mom, and some of the ferrets that come into my care are in deplorable condition when they arrived. I sit up all night with them, rubbing warm soup on their lips to get them to eat. I hold them, I talk to them, I spend all my time with them. I carry them around inside my shirt. Some were so thin you could read through them. Some were afraid, some would not eat, and some were just broken in mind, body and spirit. It is my job to fix them all. Some of this is due to ignorance on the NEW ferret owners part. Some is trying to teach them a lesson, if you don't eat, you won't poop on the carpet. My concern now is that some new owner will be at WalMart buying a water pistol to train their ferret, and that Eds off the wall advice that MAY BE TAKEN AS THE GOSPEL TRUTH. Please, new ferret owners, if you have any questions, ask someone else. And Ed, you seem a man of great knowledge, when the next ferret comes into Hospice Care, anywhere, how about you put your money where your mouth is. Pay the Hospice Mom who spends her time and energy to put this ferret back together again. Give her the hourly rate of a caregiver with over time after the first 8 hours and only 12 more to go for the day. The next day, she is on the couch with the ferret next to her. She is working hard to repair trust and faith. You could donate her pay to a deserving shelter. You could have meals sent in as she is eating cereal twice a day so she can hold the ferret while it sleeps. Be accountable for what you wrote Ed - Accountability is the key to this countries problems, and while you are happy being part of the problem, I will continue to be the solution. I only read your posts so I will know how to help the next abused soul that comes into my care. In a time when people do not have jobs or work to do, I am in overdrive. Marilyn Ledoux Ledoux Hospice [Posted in FML 6293]