Hi everybody, my name is Audrey Kaufman. You may recognize my e-mail address because my daughter Shawna is a regular on your list. She is absolutely crazy about ferrets, and has persuaded me and my SO to let her adopt one--maybe even two! We have our doubts. I have a good sized dog who I'm sure would love to shake the ferret at every given opportunity. What happens when you have to board the little weasel? Does it get sick and miserable if boarded? How much money do you have to spend on this thing per year? How happy are they at home when nobody's around? Do they cry or make noises when they want attention? Are they as miserable as my dog can be and can they be destructive if left alone? How will they act if someone comes to visit and they don't feel comfortable with them? Do they carry any diseases that can be trasmitted to humans? Do they get worms? How harmful and painful can a ferret bite be? Are they noisy at night? Do they make a mess of their cages? Do they smell? How often do they have to be washed? As you can see, I am not convinced that this animal is going to be a great pet, so any info (unbiased, of course) will be greatly appreciated. My daughter is convinced that she cannot live without a ferret. She knows she will have to pay for all of it's expenses, and she still wants one. Thanks everyone! Audrey Kaufman [Posted in FML issue 1579]