Kurt, We are very sorry to hear about Paddington. I do know that the last two month of his life were really worth living because of you. He was terribly abused and neglected. Never really had a life before you. When the pain lessens, please give us a call. If you would like, we have others that needs a good home too. Rudy, I know that you have a low opinion of shelters. Won't try to change your mind. But you might want to consider this. Paddington came from a FFZ. The only reason we can rescue from that particular FFZ is that we guarantee that we do not adopt ferrets into that area. It is in our contract that we sign for every ferret turned into us. If we didn't what do you think would happen to those ferrets confiscated there? Since we can make that guarantee, we get many calls from the animal control people and the humane societies to "rescue" ferrets from there. We have place most in very loving homes, like Kurt's. Paddington got to live out the little remaining time he had in a home with lots of love and affection. Otherwise he would have died without knowing love. We don't like it either, not adopting to FFZ and some very fine people there. But we are saving ferret lives in the process. Once that FFZ opens and allows ferrets in, our lines are open and we will welcome any suitable person wishing to adopt. We have lots of ferrets waiting anxiously for them. Dick B. [Posted in FML issue 1261]