Dear Ferret Folks- Now that we have collectively mulled over Sandra's tragedy, perhaps we can derive something useful from it. So...perhaps we could talk about how we introduce our fuzzies to strangers? I have a specific method for introducing CHILDREN to my boys. Almost invariably, the child lunges for the ferret without a word, wanting to give pats. I stop the child cold in his tracks by saying "You have no idea if my ferret is friendly, do you?" That almost always gives them pause. If they are with their parents, it almost always gives the *parent* pause. I continue (if I am with Todd, Caff-Pow can be excitable.) "My ferret doesn't bite, but you should always ask before you touch someone's animal. You can't always tell just by looking if an animal is nice or not." I then invite the child to give gentle head and back pats. I hold the ferret, the child does not because I don't know if the child will spook, should the ferret whirl around or try to leave my hands and climb toward the child. A spooked child holding a ferret could drop or throw the animal, squeeze it and hurt it. I also take the opportunity to talk a little about ferrets and if the child is very young, I stress that you should always also ask before you pet someone's dog. Most are nice, but some are mean. Most parents are grateful that I handle the meeting this way, and that I mention asking before you pet someone's dog. A large number of *responsible* parents will then re-iterate "See? I *told* you that you should ask before you pet someone's doggie", or something along those lines. A horrid number of children are mauled or killed outright by dogs every year in this country. Children have to be taught to *think* before they run for someone's dog and bend down, putting their face right near a tooth-filled snout. Todd is a great "Intro" feret. He doesn't particularly like being picked up by strangers, but he is calm and patient about receiving gentle head and back pats. He doesn't bite except during heavy play, and that is in fun, not in anger. I tell kids and adults flat out that Caff-Pow, although he is very big, is also young and excitable. He might nip. Most kids still want to give him a gentle pat or touch. In that case I turn his back to face the child for a gentle pat or two, my thought being that it is pretty tough for him to nip someone when he is oriented like that. So far, I have had positive experiences with kids with one exception. I had a ferret on the ground, leashed (this was some time a go, I don't remember which one) and the ferret jumped up toward the child, trying to climb his shins. The kid was small, and frightened. He (She?) Kicked out at the ferret, who wound up being just fine. But still, it was unpleasant. I tend to pick the ferret up when I see interested strangers, especially little strangers making a bee-line for my furry buddies. What are *your* tricks/advice for keeping your ferret safe from kids, and strangers in general? We must have a billion years of experience among us. Alexandra in MA [Posted in FML 6582]