I want to make sure I have thanked everyone for their help during the aftermath of the Cleveland bite incident. Thank you to those who called, faxed, emailed or wrote to various media, both in Cleveland and in your own areas, urging them to provide balanced reporting. Thank you to those who sent positive comments to the city officials, especially the Cleveland City Kennel, who was amazed by your polite and cordial messages. Thank you to those who sent their support to me and Jean; your good wishes kept us going. Special thanks to Beth Comarow, who is my anchor and who forwarded messages to a wider audience. Phoenix is adjusting just fine to his new life with Jean. He is the typical happy dooking war dancing ferret! Phoenix has been granted this second chance of life largely due to Jean's prior relationship and calm and careful handling of the people at Animal Control. I recommend all ferret shelters and clubs cultivate good relationships with your area shelters BEFORE something happens. Visit your local humane societies, pounds etc. Make sure you visit the private ones as well as those run by the municipalities. Take your business card and some brochures on ferret care. If you are a shelter, tell them they can refer people. Express appreciation for the work they do, EVEN if you disagree with some of their policies. DON'T lecture at them. Remember they are doing the best they can with what they have to work with. Visit every few months, but don't be a pest! Remember a good relationship NOW can save a ferret's life LATER! And finally, many people have offered to adopt Phoenix. Part of the agreement releasing him to Jean stipulated that he remain in her cusody. Be assured he will be well loved and spoiled there! However, there are many ferrets at ferret shelters around the country who are no less deserving of a good home than Phoenix. Contact a shelter near you for information on giving one of these fuzzies a home. Linda Iroff North Coast Ferret Shelter West http://www.oberlin.edu/~liroff/ncfs.html [Posted in FML issue 2242]