Yesterday, I visited a local wildlife rehabilitation center. It was an amazing place; squirrels, fawns, pot-bellied pigs, turtles, eagles, owls, wolves (yes, wolves and I petted one!!), possums, iguanas, lots of other animals, and a ferret! They nurse sick and injured wildlife back to health and then release them back into the wild. They also sometimes end up with domesticated animals and find homes for them. Since this is a college town, there is a real problem with students moving out and abandoning their animals. The one ferret they had was already promised to someone, much to my husband's relief. He had belonged to a man who wasn't feeding it so the rehab center took him. He was skin and bones when they got him. When I saw him yesterday, he was sweet and fat and happy. He didn't try to nip me at all, just snuggled. Anyway, to get to the point, the director asked me if I could help them when they get ferrets, as in nurse them in my home. I told him that I would be glad to do that. Last night, I started thinking about it and decided that you could help me by advising me on the things I need to be concerned about bringing a stray ferret into my 4-ferret home. I'm not concerned with socialization issues but more about diseases, etc. For example, what should I do if no one knows if the ferret has had its shots? Should I have it vaccinated? Would it be a good idea to routinely take a stray to the vet before taking it home? My vets are the primary doctors for the center so I think they would charge little, if any, for taking care of the strays. You get the drift of my questions. I think you shelter operators out there could give me some help. I want to help the little ones get healthy and into good homes but I will not jeopardize the health of my own babies. Just keep in mind that these are temporary visitors who will hopefully be adopted out to good homes. If not, I guess I get to keep them!!! Thanks in advance for all of your advice and assistance. Katharine Lily (who just had an adrenalectomy last week and is doing great!), Lany, Blaze, and Champ [Posted in FML issue 2073]