I've owned ferrets for over 7 years and *never* had an escape. Until now. My new ferret, Katy, who's about 4 months old figured out how to get out the dog door! Eeeeeeeeeek! I saw evidence that she'd been in my back yard (little holes dug) but couldn't find her anywhere. We called, whistled, squeezed, combed the neighbor's back yards, went door to door ... all in the midst of being dreadfully ill from the flu! Whew. I'd come to the end of my energy and was having my children pass out little notes with my phone number on it. I was in the back yard, listessly cleaning up doggie-do when I heard something rustle. KATY!!!! She'd burrowed *under* the dog house! My dog saw her and scared the living daylights out of her (she *dove* under the dog house and >screamed<) but came right back out when I called her. Then my little tan ferret (now a deep, rich earth-hue) LEAPT into my arms! She's not terribly cuddly as a rule, but she sure wanted to go home! Whew. Never, ever again will I trust that just because one ferret shows no interest in the dog door will NEW ferrets have a similar lasse-fare attitude. Double whew. Time to make another gate ... for the kitchen! A sincerely thankful ferret-mom, --Barb-- [Posted in FML issue 1047]