Dear FML, Well, not that anyone responded or anything, but just in case you wondered... I took the Ziggy monster to the vet, and now he's on lysodren for probable adrenal disease. He's seven, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it. The shocking thing was the shelter bill, it's at over $600.00. I am not *well off* so to speak, but I pay a little on the bill as a donation when I can. I stopped by the shelter that I foster Ziggy and Tatiana for, and saw two pitiful critters. One was our local foster mom. She's got so many kids right now that she doesn't get much sleep. Her entire paycheck goes to cover food, litter, and vet expenses, and her ever-tolerant husband just pats her on the head and tries to help. The other pitiful creature was a rescue who came in with renal failure. Seems he was left in a vets office until someone contacted the shelter (10 days) without receiving any medical attention. The attitude of the vet was something like why bother, I'm not getting paid. Dakota was as week as a kitten. It was like holding an empty envelope. He seemed to be content to just be near a warm body. His feet were like birds feet (he's old). His body shook when he lifted his head. It just broke my heart. No wonder the shelter mom looks like heck, she spends all her days and nights providing hospice care to the dying, and medical care to the sick, and the dying. I respect her dedication tremendously. I told shelter mom to get some rest. I told her that if she doesn't there is a special place at the rainbow bridge for her. She will have to stay there and keep all our babies company until their people get there. No pearly gates for her if she doesn't take care of herself. She said, she'd love it! Man, she has got to get some rest!!! So, to all shelter and foster people remember this, you need to take care of yourselves too, because your little guys need you. O.K? I have a theory that all ferret shelter people are there at the rainbow bridge too, doing what they do best. Thanks, Dawn [Posted in FML issue 2479]