Hey all. What an exciting weekend I've had. My roommate got a new kit, she's a small, perfect silvermitt named Static. Here's the problem... When we got Static home, we began handling her and picking her up and stuff and I picked her up (gently, as I would any other ferret) and I heard a "snap" sound from her front leg. I thought I'd broken her leg and I felt SO bad! Static didn't seem to be in any pain, however, and when I set her down, she ran and dooked and played, but later when Katie picked her up, she heard the same sound. It happens almost every time we pick her up. I really have never experienced such a thing. It sound a little bit like when you pop your knuckles or a joint or something, but it's a very frightening sound on a baby! Anyone ever seen this before, know what it is, have any suggestions? I'm almost too scared to handle her, I don't want to hurt her. She's about 8-9 weeks old, so she's not a tiny tiny baby. Also, to MsPea who was thinking about requesting a permit for edcational purposes for her ferrets, if they give it to you, that would be great...but that also lets them know (before they agree to give you a permit) that you have ferrets. This was done, to some extent, in San Antonio. People could get permits to take their ferrets in to a school or petstore for an educational thing, but I guess when you're talking about a whole state where they're illegal, that's another story probably. If you can get this permit, you need it though. I think that part of the fight for legalization has to be education. A lot of people haven't seen a ferret or played with a ferret and have to rely on second hand rumors and misinformation (in most cases) to make their decisions on the animals. It's not like a cat. If cats were illegal, everyone's seen cats and knows cats and enough people would be up in arms that a law like that wouldn't last long. I still have people in San Antonio come up to me and have no idea what kind of animal I was holding. Not a clue...The problem is that you have no exposure. I once had a woman come up to me while I was holding one of my ferrets tucked into my arms and ask, "Do they have legs or are they just like furry snakes?" (the way I was holding him, you couldn't see his little paws). Sigh. Well, good luck, MsPea, I hope it works! Please, anyone with any ideas what may be wrong with Static, let me know. We still plan on getting her to a vet monday, though. Thanks! Kelly (and the growing crew of apt#218) Reverend Maynard: "The best toys are the live ones they bring home from time to time...hey where'd the baby go?" Edie: "Snore, squeak." Cosette: "Where did this runt come from...I'm the baby!" Static: "WOOW, look at all the space to run and play in!" [Posted in FML issue 1778]