hi. I'd like to post this anonymously so i don't get into any legal trouble. Someone asked in the most recent digest "i wonder what the university of california is doing to the research ferrets" - or something very close to that. I worked for the university for 2 years, in San Francisco. I can tell you that 1) research is not being conducted by the UC itself, but rather by investigators who basically rent space from the university, and whose research is funded by the federal gov't; and 2) the project i know of involving ferrets was a brain study, conducted very humanely. These ferrets were supplied with lots of toys and lots of love during their time with us. There were no dry eyes in the lab when it became necessary to "sacrifice" a ferret. It is difficult, I know, to separate emotions from intellect and rationality, but it is necessary to conduct certain kinds of research involving animals for many reasons that don't belong on this list. Please know, however, that lab animal workers and many investigators do care about their animals, and that lab ferrets are not all mistreated - and definitely not by the university of california, san francisco. thanks. [Posted in FML issue 1213]