First of all, M.S. Hastie, I'm terribly sorry to hear of your accident which resulted in the loss of your loving ferret Key. Your post this morning sounded like you're coping and moving on. I know it is VERY hard to deal with this situation. Hang in there. You are doing so well in paying Key honorable respects by having him buried just outside your apartment window. And the way that your apt neighbors are paying their respects to Key is so special! Sounds very comforting. You all are doing your best. Secondly, I agree that accidents do happen. M.S., I'm proud of you .. you did all you could. This type of accident was the first of its kind, I'm sure. We all learn from mistakes. We are adults and have the brains - why do we deserve to be berated after a traumatic mistake of stepping on a ferret? I would not call this accident a careless accident ... it's simply an accident. Nothing we can do to undo that situation except to avoid the very same type of accident to happen again. Thirdly, I'd like to make a request. When I accidentally kill my ferret, and post that here to share, to seek support, to let you all know what happened, I will be in NO shape to receive private berated emails. I will ALREADY know how stupid I would be, how "careless", how ignorant, etc. etc. I will already have these thoughts, guilty feelings and tears of grief tearing my heart and mind apart. So .. I'd appreciate it if I'm spared further unnecessary grief. Thanks! Again, M.S. hang in there. Time heals. [Posted in FML issue 2380]