I have owned ferrets for the past 11 years. I am not an expert in any sense of the word. Just try to educate myself (and my vet) on these beautiful creatures, just as everyone on this list does. I heard about this pair of 4 year olds whose personality seemed like they would mesh good with my other two. Was only looking for one more ferret, but you know that old saying, "Whats one more". So I adopted from my local rescue this couple. The previous owners though have me so ticked off, I had to write. The rescue got a call in January that this newly married man wanted to give up his ferrets, he mentioned that they were going bald. The rescue asked him to bring them in right away. Over the next several months the man (and his wife) kept setting up appointments to drop the ferrets off, but wouldn't keep the appointments. The rescue suspecting adrenal tumors in both ferrets called and tried to explain that the ferrets needed medical attention right away, please bring them in. Finally on May 29th they did. The resuce got them in for surgery in beginning of June. They were two very sick ferrets. The male not as bad as the female. I called to adopt them a couple weeks ago. The rescue explained that the female was very bad off and I would have to wait until she stablized. I called back after a couple weeks and the rescue explained her condition; completely hairless, very thin, being feed every few hours, but seemed to not be at deaths door anymore. I asked if I could go ahead and try my hand at nursing her back to health, the male is in great health (no hair yet on the tail, he needs the hair club for ferrets). The rescue knowing that I have had ferrets for a long time and have a 14 year old son to help with the feedings said if I wanted to give it a shot she'd let me, but if I had any problems to bring them back and she'd keep nursing them. I have had them for four days and seeing the condition she is in breaks my heart. How on earth can anybody be so stupid to let animals get in this condition. The owners had an easy out in January. They could have just dumped the ferrets and walked away from their problems. But nooooo, they had to be so inconsiderate that they just left them (probably always caged) for months. I feel like going over and slaping them across the face. The rescues do so much, putting up with people like that. How do you all keep your patience. Nursing these little guys and gals back to health after they have been ignored. You all deserve a round of applause. I don't think I could do it even though I love ferrets dearly. If anybody runs across owners like this please get them to hand those ferrets over quickly to someone who cares. This is animal abuse and I wish they could be fined or something. Pray for my little lady, she still could have many many happy ferret years left. Faith and her furry four using her bosses e-mail Graham Gibbs - [log in to unmask] - Washington, D.C. [Posted in FML issue 1275]