Hi folks, it may sound a bit crazy, but it may be a good idea for Mrs. Smith to file a civil lawsuit against the b.....d who murdered her ferrets. We don't suppose that he is worth very much, but we figure that if she gets a judgment against him, it may be sold to a collection agency and then... he would regret the day he was born. Since the burden of proof is much lighter in a civil case, there is a good chance of winning. This is just a plan B kind of thing -- in case they refuse to press criminal charges, or if the lowlife manages to walk. However, it would be necessary to set up a trust fund to cover the legal expenses -- we don't think any lawyer would take a case like that free of charge. Unless, of course, there are good lawyers here on FML :-). Monika & Matt Marcinkowski Edmonton, Alberta, Canada [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 2145]