This message is to Karie and is being cc'd to the FML: My deepest sympathies are with you. I've lost two in my lifetime (of nine total that I've owned), and after the most recent one, Lilly, passed away I could hardly bear it. I run a shelter, and the morning she died I cried so hard and I made up my mind that I was going to put my other (six at the time) up for adoption because I couldn't go through that pain again. With her, like yours, her death was so sudden that I couldn't deal with it. I have to say this, though. From your post, you sound like a very caring person who provided a good home for your ferrets. We need people like you to take these guys and care for them! Too many "bad" people have ferrets, and there are some shelters that are overrun with ferrets that need loving homes. Perhaps after you mourn your loss you will reconsider and try again. I used to be under the impression that ferrets are very sickly pets, in fact I think on my web page I still have that written (gotta change that!) In fact, I recently discovered (from the ferret FAQ, BTW) that ferrets are among the hardiest pets, but since their lifespans are shorter than dogs or cats, more ferret owners have occurrance to see disease than cat or dog owners. Plus, the Ferret Mailing List is very deceptive, as so many of us turn to it during the bad times (sick ferret---I'm writing about Ricky every day there, dying ferrets---you just posted about yours, so there are two examples) that it makes it seem like everyone has a sick ferret. Try to remember there are 2300+ people on the FML. If we all had sick ferrets every day's post would be hundreds of pages. Mourn for your ferrets. I sincerely feel for you, I've been there. I know that I'll have to go through the pain again, but then every day when I see my ferrets curled up in a cute position, or laugh as they bounce across the room, or when one of them gives me kisses after kisses to tell me that I'm cool in their book, I realize why the pain is still worth it. Good luck to you. I'll say a prayer that both of your ferrets were happily reunited over the Rainbow Bridge. Kymberlie Becker Director, Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association "Forget Puppy Love...There's nothing Greater than Ferret Love!" TM http://home.sprynet.com/sprynet/ferretlady [Posted in FML issue 1920]