I'm curious to know how people on the FML feel about having the little pawless one know that it doesn't have any paws: I've met a lot of dogs and cats who've had a paw or even leg removed because of cancer &c. who seem like they don't even know that it's gone, and get along fine with other dogs and cats. I know that having all four paws gone are different, but just because the little pawless one doesn't have the same ends to his feet doesn't mean that he can't enjoy romping around with other ferrets. Sure, it's necessary to be cautious about having his limbs heal first, but when it's hopefully done & fully healed, IMO it seems to be more of an injustice than a favor to either limit / not let him play with other ferrets, and to keep reminding him that he's "different". Ever read the children's book about the little red hen who, during the course of a really cold winter, lost all the toes on her feet? In essence, she ran on rounded-ended limbs, but after a brief adjustment period with the other chickens she did fine. The author, if I recall correctly, based this story on real events involving his pet hen. To show a sort of parallel in hope: There's a golden retriever (who owns a friend of mine) running around the garden and happily bothering the cats and hooman beans in suburban NY who has had two legs amputated on one side because of a spreading cancer, who, despite missing not only two paws but two entire legs, is one of the most rambunctious, friendly, and happy-go-lucky dogs I've ever met --- and boy are the cats scared of him when he charges them out of nowhere. =) Please give the little pawless one a chance to have a "normal" life. a ha'penny's all I could afford, ;P Anna G. Ralya [Posted in FML issue 1567]