Hello again all, I've been reading the latest comments and posts regarding children and ferrets, and although all of the points raised have been valid ones, it disturbs me to see that so many people have such a poor belief in the learning ability of the kids! I mean, it sounds to me like most people have given up any chance of chidren being able to restrain their active selves, and I think that philosophy is totally wrong! Too many times, we let ourselves fall into the trap that kids will be kids, and that they are too young or too active to learn self-control or proper respect for others. However, having grown up surrounded by dogs and cats (both adults and young ones of those), I was therefore introduced at an incredibly early age to animals. My parents tell me that at day one, the moment I did something rough or objectionable to an animal, whether or not the animal seemed to mind, they quickly intervened and made it quite clear to me that the action was not an acceptable one (hmm, sounds like ferret bite training...). They did not let me toddle around chasing the cats, or tug on the dog's ears. Plus, they were constantly handling and cuddling the animals in the right way, showing by example all the correct ways to interact with our pets. It worked wonderfully, and ever since I can remember, my parents have been able to watch me cuddle cats without squeezing them, and pick up puppies without making them yelp in fear. My point? Don't underestimate children's abilities to learn! If shown constantly from the very first instant, even a young child will quickly learn that animals must be treated carefully and gently. Children are not necessarily brutes - just like baby ferrets, kids can get away with pushing, shoving, and squeezing each other more roughly than they can with smaller animals (or in the ferrets' cases, those with thinner skins). Most children aren't malicious in purpose, and will happily play with animals in the correct ways. Whew! Enough preaching for now! I'd also like to say that I've loved some of the stories recently - especially the rabbit one! Kindjal does something somewhat similar, in that he'll attack an unsuspecting cat, but what he does is kind of run along underneath the rather large cat, nipping what parts of the cat he can reach. It's always a treat to see this huge orange tabby come flying through the room, with the little feet and tail of a weasel just barely visible beneath his low-hanging belly! Jessi & Kindjal (smelly weasel-thief extraordinaire) [Posted in FML issue 1126]