This is an article which ran in our local Eugene Register-Guard newspaper and was picked up in the Greenhill Animal Shelter newsletter without comment. There are no further details. ANIMAL RELATED DEATHS The article was a TEN year study of animal caused deaths. 40% were horse related. Of 41 total deaths 7 were due to wasps and bees, 6 by cows, 1 by a rattlesnake, one person even died after being kicked by a sheep! Five of the deaths involved pets. 3 were due to dogs (one guy tripped over his dog and fell downstairs), 1 man was eaten by a lion, and, of interest to us, a 2-year old died of ferret bites. I would love to have known more about that one. The center put the whole business of death into the right context when he mentioned that homo sapiens killed 38 times as many humans as all other animal species combined, at least in Oregon. Both the Animal Regulatory agency here and Greenhill Humane Society told us they automatically "put down" any ferrets brought in. We got Snoopy because he came to our house in the country all alone wanting lovies. Luckily I had been exposed to ferrets of friends so I knew what he was. We called the agencies and decided no way he was going there. We posted his finding all around our area, but no owner came forward. Snoopy was an adolescent and had an ODOR. We feel his owner may have found out that pets need vets and vets need money. Anyway, other ferrets were dumped around the area near that time (judging by the Found advertisement in the paper and roadkills). Snoopy is fitting right in with our two dogs and two Siamese and is a joy to have. I enjoy the letters and was hungry for info. I cannot find a knowledgeable vet here, but Companion Vet Clinic at least knew how to neuter, descent and give the right shots! PS they told me neutering alone would have "no effect on the odor". Oh yes, he has just discoved cabinets-great to open, clean out and then sleep in. Thanks for all the info. We have a great person here in town named Melanie who is a total ferret friend who brought me to you. [Posted in FML issue 1150]