Linda: Ok, too strong (pardon the pun) a comparison??!! First of all, *of course* my hob stinks when he's in season - that's the point I was trying to make. So many people think descenting is the controlling factor on that, when it really is neutering. And I would never want or suggest anyone give their ferret away because he was stinky ferret! And I did say it was my own personal opinion and I was prepared for the possibiity of this reaction. HOWEVER, I still feel the ferret who blows bombs (let's clarify that - they don't really spray - certainly not in the manner that skunks do) on a regular basis is more the exception than the rule, and descenting is not a procedure one would necessarily consider normal/routine as you would neutering. I have had several ferrets descented and worked at an animal hosp where I saw ferrets descented, and recovery is harder for the older ferret - and by older I mean 6 months. Even MF does not recommend descenting older ferrets. Again, I'm not talking about the exception to the rule - if you've got a ferret blowing bombs 3 or 4 or 6 times a day every day.....well, that can be too much. But if a ferret blows a bomb once a month or once every couple of weeks because he got po'd at something, *in my opinion* that's not reason enough to put a ferret through that procedure. Infections don't count in this discussion - that's a medical necessity and is a given as far as I'm concerned. I'm not slaming you Linda for what you did.....you had a problem ferret, and in your situation I would have done the same thing, but some of the ferrets I had descented, would NOT have been problem ferrets and I put them through it for nothing. That's my point. It's not something that HAS to be done, and I can easily consider it a form of mutilation when done without just cause. ......right up there with ear cropping...... Debbie Riccio WNYFLFA (BIG: I have nothing more to say or add to this issue. Hope this isn't too long but I wanted to get all points covered. I am willing to continue this privately if anyone feels a need to, though) [Posted in FML issue 1152]