Hi All! I've been away from my computer for a couple of days, so it has taken me awhile to catch up. Thanks to all you people who responded to my questions a couple of days ago. Now I suppose I will grace you with my wonderful opinions. ;) SHOW IN CINCINNATI: Is anyone from Kentucky (or anywhere else for that matter) going to the ferret show in Cinncy this weekend? I would love to meet you! E-mail me and maybe we can hook up. I'm not taking my varmits because I'm not going there straight from home and I couldn't find a sitter, so my wonderful husband is staying home for them. This is my first ferret show and I am really excited! I'm also working (slowly) on starting a ferret club in Louisville, so if any of you are from the Louisville area, I would REALLY like to talk to you. ALLERGIES: I too have had problems with allergies to my little buddies. My problem is that I get really itchy when I pick them up to love on them. It is worse on my face, non-hairy parts of my arms (if that makes any sense), and my stomach. I think that I some sort of dermal allergy to their oils since it isn't as bad after a bath. I have given myself over to the fact that this is my lot in life and I try to just ignore it. I could probably take Benadryl or something, but I really just hate drugs... The allergies stopped being so bad after I stopped using ferretone, I don't know what the connection may be, I just know that it is so. I realized that I was allergic to ferretone one day when I accidentally swiped some on my face and I broke out in huge welts along the swipe mark. CAGES: I'm really sorry for all you guys who have had problems with the cages that have tubes in them. I saw some at my pet store the other day, and they looked sooooooo appealing. But then I started looking closer and I think that my ferrets could probably get out of them, or worse, get really hurt in them. I think they are a great idea, but they just aren't made very well, at least the ones I saw. Sorry, can't remember the company name... FERRET PROOFING THE DRYER: If the problem is that the little Houdinis get underneath the dryer, you could try attaching rubber strips along the bottom so that there is no way for them to wriggle under there. I'm thinking of the kind of strips you would get at the hardware store to weather proof your doors and windows. I have never done this myself mind you, it's just an idea. If they are climbing inside the dryer, you can try duck taping some chicken wire to the openings. that way, air can still get back there, but ferrets can't. Be sure if you use wire, that it isn't the kind that they can get their little nails caught in. You should probably be able to find a good quality cage wire at your hardware store. FERRET PROOFING THE KITCHEN: My parents live in a mobile home, and we have similar problems when we visit. You can probably use the same techniques on your fridge as I suggested on your dryer. You can also duck tape cardboard barriers in tiny little spots that ferrets can squirm through (like that 1" spot between your fridge and wall). [Posted in FML issue 2626]