Dooks to all, just wanted to tell Mary, Lori and all who are working on these songs that they are getting goood, heck some I can even SING without the fuzzies holding their ears and running under the bed in pain! Lori, I couldn't quite get through the treat song without cracking up though, very funny! Jen, it's great to hear that Kismet is doing so well! And Yeah for PB and Sherlock too, Matthew! I think when I had my first bout of ECE, I was very fortunate that all my kids were relatively young, and only my one little girl Whit and my oldest guy Murphy had the worst of it. Now I'm having a problem with someone...haven't been able to figure out who yet....is having strange diarrhea that is clear liquid with partially digested pieces of food in it, only evry so often and never in the cage litterboxes. I keep trying to catch who it is and no luck...then it just disappears for a couple days. All are eating, drinking, and acting OK otherwise. Sue M. I think you did a really great job of describing what most breeders out there are trying to say...you LOVE ferrets, and whether it be by trying to improve the breed lines which, let's face it, NEED to be improved in this country; or help out other ferrets by finding homes and placing shelter kids, it sounds like you are doing a great job. When I got my first ferrets, they too were from a petstore, but I read, attended clinics and shows, and found out that, yes, they do (MF) have nice personalities for the pet trade, but alsotend to carry a lot of genetic problems and cancers too. I went to a private breeder, had a beautiful hob, showed him all over to make sure that it wasn't just me who thought he was great, then selectively bred him to improve the lines. I kept his son...he was a great ferret, but not that great to go crazy with breeding so I had him neutered. His children are all in great homes. I bet 90% of the small breeders out there know where every single one of their kits are and how they are doing, and would take them back in a heartbeat if the situation warranted it. Can the large profitable breeders say that? The difference starts where one tries to make a profit or a business out of selling animals, of any kind, like they were selling cars. If you can't support your animals in some other way and just enjoy the betterment of those animals that you love...well, then maybe you should think twice before doing it. The only difference with ferrets...as opposed to cats and dogs...that we have going for us is that they CAN'T breed without our consent. It's a good difference, I thank God that there aren't any stray ferrets out there trying to raise a litter on the street. (Are you California legislators listening???<VBG>) Well, I didn't mean to get so caught up.... Michele & the 7 single fuzzies (Mom says we're all NOTORIZED???-Nick) [Posted in FML issue 2799]