I had an interesting letter about my decision to adopt ill or sick ferrets. It's true; currently I have a number of ill floor monkeys. Sandy has adrenal disease. One surgery did not cure it, and she will go back later this spring for another try. Apollo has severe heart problems, which sometimes result in fluid building up in his abdomen and lungs. Fraggle and Trillian are blind in one eye. Sam Luc was baddly mistreated and has a stumpy tail where a door amputated part of it. Foster, fantastic for 13 years of age, is mostly blind, and quite arthritic. Frank, on loan while a friend off digging stuff up in a foreign land, is severely brain-damaged from having his oxygen cut off while trapped under the corner of a couch, and requires a push just to walk. All these ferrets require considerable work just to maintian their health. Yet I did not hesitate for a second to take in Pooh, even after being bloodied by Jet's death. When I saw Pooh, I knew immediately I was in for a $300+ vet bill. And I knew the situation, at least in the long run, was hopeless. Two weeks later, I'm out the bucks, lost lots of sleep, and have nothing to show for it. Well, nothing physical anyway. My vet keeps threatening to place a "This wing donated by Bob" sign on the door of room three, my personal favorite (the farthest from the barking dogs which make some of the ferrets nervous), so I guess I have that to look forward to. Believe me, I'm not complaining. My sweet friend Troy Lynn has amassed more than $13,000 in vet bills and debts, a direct result of the care of ferrets coming into her shelter (She is one of my heros). I can't speak for her, but I can tell you why I do it. Because it feels right. It doesn't always feel good, sometimes it feels damn bad, but it always feels right. I do it because ferrets didn't ask to be domesticated, so we have an ethical obligation to care for them. I do it because ferrets didn't ask to be pets, so we have a moral obligation to care for them. Not own them, *care* for them. So even if I need a book or want to see a movie, I would rather invest my last buck into medicine for a ferret that will die next week, just so this week it can enjoy just a few pleasant days. It is the right thing to do. One thing that really boils my blood are people who want the benefits of ferret ownership, but refuse to take on the financial responsibility. Sometimes it's a person with a houseload of ferrets and can't afford the bills, so the sick ones lead shortened lives and die of untreated disease or injury. More frequently, its a breeder who loves baby ferrets but never has the money to treat the sick ones. I have seen ferrets with solvable problems die because of no vet care. Very occasionally, it is a shelter run by a person who loves ferrets, but never understood the financial impact a house full of sick ferrets can make. Sometimes, these are people pleading for ferrets to place, yet they never have the ability to care for the sick and unadoptable ferrets under their care. You guys know I am about as far from the PETA camp as I can be without going into orbit. Yet I believe each life has the right to live in health and dignity, regardless of species. Regardless of my spiritual beliefs, I have the body of an animal, which consumes to survive. I refuse to feel guilty for eating foods my body evolved to eat. But there is a world of difference between food consumption and neglect. It is upsetting to see someone discard their ferret because it is ill, or they are tired of its cute antics. But it is *understandable*. But it is not understandable for a shelter or breeder to "discard" ferrets by allowing them to die by neglect or lack of vet care. Breeders and Shelters are ferret *caretakers,* and that implies a moral and ethical responsibility to take care of the little critters. It is the right thing to do. If you know of a shelter or breeder not caring for their charges for any reason, let someone know. Sometimes just a kind word or a little bit of help cures the problem. If you are looking to start a shelter (or start breeding) look at your financial base first. I can't afford to be a shelter, but I can afford to be a half-way house on occasion. Be realistic, and assume each ferret will cost you $500 (or more) a year in vet costs and upkeep. If you can't afford that sum (probably a low guess), then please resist the temptation and either be a half-way house or adopt a few extra and leave it at that. It is much better to do a little less and make people happy than fail at doing more and making people upset and hateful. Check into a shelter or breeder's background before you do business with them. If they are reputable and ferret caretakers, they should not mind answering a few questions regarding their animal care. Please, do not do business with breeders or shelters that are not caregivers. If you are going to take the moral high-ground, then empty out that bottle of pennies and donate the cash to a shelter. Quit smoking, donate the money you save to a shelter and save yourself and a ferret. If I could give up cream cheese, guacamole and sour cream burritos, smoking shouldn't be too hard, and I didn't even have a patch. (Must...not...weaken...) A spiffy way to help a shelter is by adopting a ferret that cannot be placed because of illness or behavior. Bring the beastie home (and some can be very *beastie!*) and make its final days one of love and attention. If you cut out the middleman and pay the vet bills directly, you also get the benefits, one of which is a ferret that bonds to you in a way most don't. You become thier favored companion, and they truely enjoy their contact with you. You may find your heart ripped up from time to time, and it will certainly be extra work, but trust me. Its worth every moment, even the tears. One last comment from Philosopher Bob. Some people think it is wrong to feel anger or hurt over something in thier lives, like the death of an old ferret friend. IMHO, that is silly; you can't balance on a high wire holding one end of a long stick. The honest (and appropriate) expression of emotion is what keeps us healthy. Taking in sick or dying fuzzies might be difficult at times, even quite painful, but it is balanced with emotional benefits as well, quite worth the effort. Bob C and 19 MO Floor Monkees (Missing Jet and Pooh) off the soapbox [Posted in FML issue 2254]