Hello, all! My ferret, Sam, is about to be accepted as the first "Therapy Ferret" at a local Vets Hospital (Mental Health Outpatient Clinic). I am in the process of gathering information for the policy manual to have him approved. Is anyone using ferrets for therapy? Sam will be kept in my office, and will become friends with many of the patients who visit. Many veterans seem to have ferrets of their own, and they like to hold and pat him. I'd appreciate hearing from any veterans who own ferrets, and especially what it is about them that makes them chosen pets compared to other animals for those veterans. I'd especially like to know if the veterans who choose ferrets for pets have PTSD? Obviously, I work with veterans who have PTSD, and am looking at pet therapy, here, with ferrets. Also, I remember reading an article a long time ago about why ferrets are better pets than cats for people with HIV/AIDS. There are lots of articles about cats, but not about ferrets. Now I can't find the article,and the hospital is asking me to find the literature about this. Is anyone aware of articles? I'd appreciate a lead. There are many veterans with HIV who want pets, but they must be careful what kind they choose. Thanks so much, Dan [Posted in FML issue 2173]