Thank you for your response, Rob! Actually the MAIN reason that I used Vaseline to get poor Scooter out of the harness was just how very panicky he got, and then I got, as we discovered that the buckle was locked shut around him. I was in the bathroom at the time, so I simply grabbed the Vaseline, gooped him up under the harness, threw in some soap and water on top of it, and slid him right out. I just thank heavens that the buckle didn't lock tight as I was sizing it on him the first time around (and found that I had made it a bit too tight!) I'm sure that I could have wriggled him out if I tried (I do leave at least a finger's worth of space in each strap for him), but I was too afraid that in his squirmy, scared state I would injure him in the process. It was far less traumatic to slide him out all at once (he's one of those ferrets that doesn't mind water much as long as he's not immersed). Your point about cutting out the center tab was an excellent one, as long as it doesn't affect the proper hold of the buckle in the process. For myself ... I would never use a Hagen harness again, simply because it was such a bad experience for both me and Scooter. Others need to make their own decisions. Thanks again for the note! - Ela [Posted in FML issue 1635]