Because sometimes the bond with a ferret is more like that with a child. Because sometimes the ferret starts to get sick very early in its life, like at age 3, when their normal lifespan is 6 to 8 years Because sometimes the ferret gets sick and you don't even know what's wrong until you've already spent 7 or 8 hundred dollars For Example, a ferret once had really enlarged lymph nodes, and wasn't otherwise "sick". * intital biopsy of enlarged lymph node - $220 * followup blood work because lymph node came back noncancerous - $280 for 2 sets * set of X-rays - $120 * ultrasound because the bloodwork was not conclusive of a diagnosis - $275 * adrenal surgery, which she had an excellent chance of recovering from and living another 2 ok 3 years after - $280 * cremation after unexpected death due to liver failure - $50. I suppose you would say that I should have put her down, and earlier, before I spent all that money. But when? and why? she was very happy - spent lots of time with me on the couch, snarfed down Lucky Charms and Duck Soup every day, woke me up in the morning with kisses, and played with her other ferret friends (until the last month). Where can *you* look at this scenario and draw the line, and say that she *should* have been put down? She may not have enjoyed all the medical procedures, but parents often take their children to the doctor and the children don't like it. But for human parents, it's taken for granted that they will do every thing they can to ensure a long life for their children. I had every reason to believe that she would recover and life her life happily. I really don't know what else to say to somebody who would (I assume) be willing to put down a young, happy ferret because it has some undiagnosed medical problem. Because whether or not you realize it, that is the case with these "thousand dollar ferrets" more often than not. Maybe you just haven't had the fortune to be loved by a truly special ferret. Melissa Mishka & Buttons (Tasha, Nookie, and Bailey in heaven) [Posted in FML issue 2803]