The animal was a human and now the Ferret Person has paid the price... I got a rescue in yesterday..abandoned at a park in some bushes...the park grounds keeper knows me and called me from work to 'come right away - critter emergency' When I got there I was greeted by a very scratched and bitten young man (the friend) and a ferret nearly insane with pain and raging infection. It was filthy beyond imagination and emaciated and dehydrated as well...but the worst was yet to come. I could see it was in pain and needed a vet but its fur was so matted and stunk so much I wasn't sure what were the problems causing the insanity and wild biting and screaming. so, into a carrier it went and I used my cellular to warn a vet friend I was enroute with a ferret emergency... and to get a tech and gloves ready as well as a bath...so we could see what was the situation... it was a strong tech and a great retired vet that got that critter cleaned off and then could keep lunch down to try to treat what we found... in order to keep the fuzzy from some activity the owner found objectionable the 'human' had wrapped rubber bands tightly around each paw... and the resultant swelling and agony had driven the ferret nuts... we partially anesthetized it and cut away the rubber bands...but it was too late... the paws (days like this according to the vets estimate) were infected and partially into gangrene (or a ferrets equivilent)... and they had to be removed to save its life. This was super risky in view of the starvation and dehydration but it was operate or watch it die of the poisoning from the paws. It is a little boy about 10 months old and he is finally stable at this writing... he is drinking and trying to chew and swallow...he is so hungry...he is still on IV fluids and nutrients altho that will be all in him by morning (its almost 4 am here now).. I am sewing leg sock-booties for him as I rock him in the big rocker this am...and Doc says he is basically very strong and has a 50/50 chance if nothing else appears to threaten his recovery... your prayers would be very welcome in the next few days... he has the standard markings of a Silver mitts, but the Mitts part is no more... any suggestions for a name for this fellow???? I watch the other fur kids and wonder how this little fellow will ever have a life without paws... he has not nipped once since the operations/amputations... and seems so grateful for snuggles and the removal of his pain... but he also seems sad...very sad, or perhaps its me thats so sad and seeing it in him where its not there...I don't know... its going to be a lengthly recovery I feel... and perhaps a difficult one for us all.. I never heard a vet swear like that... and I remembered curses in several languages I thought I had forgotten... and I am still very very angry... how could anyone do such a thing to a ferret baby? Its beyong my comprehension... and they say Ferrets are the animals.... I must disagree!!! any prayers and/or suggestions are welcome... anyone else had a ferret with this condition to face life with??? dayna [Posted in FML issue 1562]