Spiders, centipedes, scorpions, and other nastys... A hedgehog may not be THE answer but it is AN answer.. they can take incredible amounts of poisons without a sneeze so if something they are eating bites back they just munch on..they aren't stupid tho, they bite the sting off the scorpion first.. they hunt out anything with a web..especially the recluse spider which is usually way out of visual range and will happily chomp up any egg sacks they find as an extra treat.. they are earwig lovers and roach diners and moth munchers and ant specialists... in short if it walks, wiggles, or slithers they want some.. this is their normal fare... and they go where the fuzzys go... I have read of the conditions of some of the fuzzys and feel some of these conditions are the result of a toxic bite or sting.. and YES those bites and stings can make a ferret very ill or even kill the fuzzy. I don't like pesticides for many reasons...mostly I know too much I guess.. I have had a hedgehog patrol in one room or another every night in every residence I have lived in for many years and wouldn't think of going into a storage facility or garage until after my 'hedgies' have had a few nights to dine on all the little residents I could all too easily get hurt by. Now a real treat is to see a Hedgehog take on a very poisonous baby rattlesnake and 'do it in' in under four minutes... and she was pregnant at the time so was a mite slow on her feeties. But to each their own.... Burglars and pets... it is entirely to normal for people breaking into residences to hurt and/or kill the family pets. I guarantee a silent attacker that bites the leg or ankle of a burglar will most likely get 'stomped' immediately! I long ago made up stickers for friends windows that say 'Warning! This home protected by trained silent attack animals!' and its amazing.. their homes are sometimes the only ones never broken into.. there is something about the trained-silent-attack part of that sticker that gives burglars the shivers. I guess a noisy dog or whatever is something they can deal with, but an unknown silent attack trained 'something' is not an idea they are at all comfortable with.. but I guess it might give me pause now that I think about it! Stephanie.. Lucky you...your able to do what I so wish was possible here.. I'd sure have a big personal family as well... and with the movie people here that have pet fuzzys the fund raising possibilities are endless... all those films I did might come in handy someday yet! Prospective adoptive Parents for shelter fuzzys.. I can run things pretty well any way I choose in my circumstances.. but here is my procedure.. 1. I give an interview IN THEIR HOME..2. I give them the ferret FAQ to read and learn from... 3. I meet with them a second time and GIVE A THREE PAGE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ.. up to 4 wring answers we discuss them and that leads to other important issues we discuss, but if they flat didn't read it and flunk the test that is the end of that...no fuzzys for them, not ever from this lady anyhow! 4. We discuss their needs and families etc. [if they did study and do fine on the quiz].. 5. I return to see what accommodations and food etc. they have ready and make sure they have contacted and made a first appt. with one of the vets on the list I give them.. 6. then and ONLY then do I bring prospective fur kids to them to see if they and the needy fuzzy hit it off and seem compatible.. if not we wait for 'that special fur child' and by then they are happy to wait and 'be interviewed' by fuzzys until a 'match' is found. This is a lot of 'doing' but I check up later and 'drop by' [very rude] to see how everyone is doing... and I have only had one time an adoption was terminated.. the adoptive Mommy died.. and the fur kid was returned to me for re-placement. For the huge places with 200 fur kids a year to place this might not be even possible but I am so ridiculously idiotic about the little ones I keep thinking of more ways to 'be absolutely sure' the match is as perfect as I can make it. I am in awe of anyone who can get homes for so many needy fuzzys... Any suggestions you might have for me would be gratefully received!!! Delta Dash... this is a counter to counter/same day service that specializes in critter shipping... and for my opinion, it the ONLY way to ship any critter ... it is not in the baggage compartment either unless its specially equipped for special presureization etc. but thats just MHO.. Emergency Fund... the idea I have seen that I liked best was the system that has a part for pledges..like...a person or vet or company pledges a certain amount per month...when the people decide on a project to commit funds to then the pledges are called in and are sent directly to that project..whether a shelter or a single needy fuzzy...the pledges are there each month to be called upon as needed.. this means far less 'handling of cash' and a very rapid response time for the needy critter/critters.. IMHO that is.. To Laura who lost little Riley... Please don't wish her back, Love, instead remember her with joy and love another fur child in her memory.. she is well and waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.. TTYS dayna {{{}}} :] dayna frazier 102046,3162 'resident of the 'Marvellous Menagerie of Mirthful Mayhem' MMOMM!!! [Posted in FML issue 1605]