A pensive greetings from Seattle. Flip seems to be doing fine after a scarey encounter with a cat under the couch. It seems they suprised each other and had a lively fight that lasted as long as it took for me to lift the couch off them. They ran in opposite directions; the cat hiding in the corner for about an hour and Flip hidding behind the couch until I pulled him out and onto my lap. There were several small holes in his neck and upper back, as well as scratches up and down his back. I rinsed him with water and after he was dry I poured some hydrogen piroxide over his back. Thank goodness there doesn't seem to be any undo redness, swelling or discomfort! I just got through reading the posting on the Humane Society's position on Ferrets. I haven't been following the debate closely and I deleted that portion of the list so I can't refer back to it so keep that in mind when considering my reactions. It seems to me that recognition of the work that it takes to raise and care for *any* animal in the home is a good thing. I have often thought the very same things stated by the H.S. about cats, dogs, etc. I really believe that many, if not most, people have no business having pets because they don't have or aren't willing to spend the time and care to do the humane things necessary for the physical and mental wellbeing of their animal companions. I do believe that many of the people who keep ferrets are a special breed but these are the ones that actually keep their ferrets. Every week there is at least one ferret advertised in the paper that someone was too busy or unknowledgable to take care of. I want to expore what ways there might be to lessen this number. A good discusion and knowlege of the work involve in raising a ferret is a good beginning. I don't want ferrets to become like cats and dogs with thousands being euthanized, or tossed away by uncaring owners every year and multiple times more than that still being bred and sold in stores. Free speech: I am following, with some concern, the flare up of discord and animosity on this list. BIG I think that you are doing the right thing by calling for an end. I do the same. If there is more to be said then let's say it in private email. There are always going to be people we don't like or just disagree with and if we take up this space debating them then we loss sight of the objective of the list which is to discuss ferrets. I know that I also posted a reply but now I regret it and I apologize for addressing this to the group. It is a sad thing that there is any hate in the world but I have found great comfort that there is so little of it here in this group. I realize, however, that this doesn't mean that there will be complete peace and harmony and I will try to take things in stride; realizing that I am not the center of the universe and that I don't have to take even personal attacks personaly. I am only hurt or offended if I choose to be. No other person has the power to do these things to me without my permision. Sorry for the length of this post. I'll try to keep it to ferret issues from now on. With poop in my corners, Paul <==========================================================================> "The tide is turning...the enemy is suffering terrible losses..." -- Gen. Geo. A. Custer <==========================================================================> [Posted in FML issue 1430]