>Which would you rather see in the kit: Nutrical, Ferretvite(8-in-1) or >Furovite (Marshalls)? Also, would you rather see a small vial of Karo syup >or Honey? We are interested in knowing if anyone feels the Karo Syup or >Honey is a moot point due to the inclusion of a Nutrical, Ferretvite or >Furotone? I prefer Nutrical over Ferrevite, I don't buy Marshall's products, so Furovite would not be included. I prefer Karo syrup, although glucose tablets (available in any pharmacy) are preferable to either, aren't a liquid that can leak and make a mess, are inexpensive and will last for years in their vial. A tube of cake icing or Marshmallow Fluff can also be used during seizures. I would also suggest cotton swabs be included in order to rub the substance on the gums, when a ferret is seizing I do not ever get my fingers near its mouth. I think that both Nutrical and either Karo or glucose tabs need to be included. Nutrical can be used for MANY purposes- distraction while tending to nails or a minor injury being some, while the Karo or Glucose is there for immediate sugar boost in case of seizures. It is more "liquid" and therefore easier to administer to a ferret during a seizure when mouth is tightly clamped shut. As far as spaying jills, aside from anemia, there are other considerations to a whole Jill, the foremost being pyrometria. This painful and often fatal infection of the uterus can't happen in a spayed jill. The worst part about this disease is that symptoms often don't appear until the ferret is critically ill. I also feel that there are more than enough breeders good and bad, large and small out there that all of ferretdom is not in danger of extinction if jills are spayed. When there are no more ferrets in shelters, I might think differently. A little off topic- Do snakes have a sense of smell? Are they afraid of ferrets? One of my neighbors has a recurring problem with a snake laying on his doorstep. If we sprinkled some dried ferret feces around would that possibly ward off the snake? Of should I call my snake/reptile rescue friend and have him come and cart the thing off? We have already had an exterminator relocate the snake back into the woods twice, and are pretty sure it is the same one that keeps reappearing. BTW- I don't know anything about snakes, so I don't know what type it is although the exterminator did say it was not poisonous, just a nuiscance. We have boarded ferrets for a long time here at the shelter. We have three who have been here since February (?), one since June, and one on and off since January. We don't really know when any of them are going home, or if they ever will permanently. Three of the boarders have been intergrated in with my personal ferrets. (I only integrate LONG TERM boarders, and then only after they have been here for a month or more and the owners agree.) The owners of all of them call or e-mail regularly. I don't have a problem with long-term boarding unless the owners make no effort to contact you. (We did have that problem last year, and the owner ultimately chose to give the ferrets up.) Our boarding form specifically states that ferrets not picked up by "X" will be considered abandoned, however I have never had to enforce this. If I am not sure if they are boarding or dumping when they call, I ask for the boarding fee upfront. This seems to weed them out right away. Of the long term boarders here right now, I am only being paid for one, the others belong to friends who are supplying food, etc., but are simply unable to have the ferrets in their homes for various reasons right now. As far as the ferret that belongs to the girl who lives in CA now, I would ask to speak to her mother, and inform her that ferrets are illegal in CA, tell her what the fines are and that the family may be subject to arrest, etc. I have a feeling they will relinquish the ferret immediately. Dee writes about the ick that can happen in the Midwest cages- we keep Crok- Loks under each water bottle in order to avoid problems with the dropped food getting wet. Works for all cage types. -Anne [Posted in FML issue 2439]