Such a plethora of responses to my question about getting a ferret from a shelter! I've been able to hear/read alot of different opinions about how to handle adopting ferrets and dealing w/ the ECE. In one sense, I agree w/ Pam Grant about getting your ferrets exposed to it and getting it over w/, but at the same time, it IS a scary thought. I have another question: Say I have a Hypothetical Ferret. This H.F. has had ECE and recovered. Can my Hypothetical Ferret come down w/ it again if exposed to another ferret who is shedding the virus? Or is the Hypothetical Ferret protected from getting it again b/c he already went through it? One More Thing: Found a painting of Elizabeth I at age 54, called "Ermine Portrait" w/ what looks like a white ferret/or ermine, but w/ little black spots all over. Must be an ermine, I guess. It's wearing a collar shaped like a crown. Very cute. Thanks! Carol-Anne, HodgePodge & Portnoy [Posted in FML issue 1246]