I appreciate everyone's comments about being polite at the vets when faced with a ferret emergency, and I'm all for it, I really am. I'm sure there are many clinics at which demands would not have to be made. But, we've all heard enough vet horror stories here to know that not every clinic is like your clinic. Even at the best clinics, sometimes the wrong people handle the phone or counter. It's easy to have high ideals when all is well and one is not faced with this situation. It's also easy to say your vet would never do this. 99.9% of the time, neither would mine. Mine has rushed to the clinic on Thanksgiving when my Punky Doodle was near death. But, I did go in another time with what I considered an emergency, and I'm not prone to overreacting, and was told by the receptionist that I needed an appointment. I demanded that she get the doctor and things changed real fast. I don't feel the least bit unreasonable for making that demand, even after all the comments here that one should be polite and understanding in these situations. My ferret's life was more important than being a pleasent person. So don't tell us how your clinic would handle it, tell us how you would handle the situation when it happens. Your ferret is extremely ill, may be near death, and you're told you can't see the vet without an appointment... which is not available for a day or so. The vets are not all in surgery or involved in other life or death situations, just seeing day to day clients with vaccinations and assorted other mundane tasks. Tell me you'll walk away. For the ferrets, Mike * Michael F. Janke, [log in to unmask] * Secretary, South Florida Ferret Club & Rescue * A 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation * * Shelter web site: http://www.miamiferret.org * Adrenal/Insulinoma web site: http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc [Posted in FML issue 2831]