This is in regards to Tana's question on whether or not a gerbil could adjust to living without a foot. My basic response to this would be an enthusiastic yes. As has been proven to me, gerbils are amazing little animals when it comes to adjustment from a handicap. Most of you all know that in one of my litters one of the mothers chewed off *all* four feet, to the first joint, on one pup at the age of 4 days old. To my amazement, he survived ... and thrived. I would have thought he would have to have help to get water and food ... but no, he not only learned to hold food, but also stand up ... and had no trouble drinking from the water bottle. He was able to do pretty much everything any other gerbil can do except jump (even then, he could jump up a couple inches or so) and I had to watch him on smoother surfaces (as he could not get any grip). Little Guy, as I called him, found a great home, along with a male companion. I was initially going to keep him, but this young girl was insistent on wanting him. They say he's doing fine. I wrote this to say, even though this happened at 4 days old and therefore he had to adjust while growing, that I believe that any gerbil can adapt to most any handicap. Emily F. -- E & K's Critters Governing Committee Member of the American Gerbil Society Adopt a gerbil -- http://www.gurlpages.com/other/emandkel/adopt.html http://www.gurlpages.com/other/emandkel/index.html http://members.xoom.com/emandkel/index.html (pictures) More pics: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=375925&a=2780674
