>I have been weighing the consequences buying a ferret, and so far I >have come up with a negative conclusion.... Are ferrets really worth all of >the effort, and money you need to invest? Yes. Spend 20 minutes sitting on the floor and playing with someone's ferret. You'll be a changed person. :) Really, though, they *are* a lot of work, but they're so sweet & funny! When we let them out we call it "Ferret TV" ... better than any TV show going. They're naughty but so adorable you forgive them immediately. And not all ferrets have health problems -- lots of cats and dogs have problems, too. We just talk about it more because the knowledge isn't out to all the vets and sometimes the owner has to teach the vet! They're so trusting and innocent ... I think it triggers strong maternal instinct in men as well as women. They trust you, they rely on you, and they love you. --Barb-- [Pepper, Max, Cal, Bumper, Katie and Gypsy] -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- Barbara Carlson Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA [log in to unmask] Work: (412) 268-1342 Home: (412) 481-5927 http://www.gsia.cmu.edu/andrew/bcarlson/home.html (under construction) Thought for the day: If "boring women have immaculate homes," I must be very interesting! -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- [Posted in FML issue 1842]